1,062 Isabela pre-schoolers join Children’s Month feeding program
More than a thousand pre-schoolers from 33 Day Care Centers in Isabela City, Basilan join the feeding program organized by the City Government of Isabela and Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar. The activity capped the celebration of October as Children's Month. FAISAL SADDALANI
ISABELA CITY, Basilan/07 November 2009 by Faisal Saddalani–The celebration of Children’s Month of October became meaningful in Isabela City when some 1,062 Pre-schoolers from the 33 established Day Care centers of the city joined the feeding program organized by City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar.
Accompanied by their parents, pre-schoolers from ages 3 to 5 years old happily watched their favorite life-size cartoon characters namely Barney, Dora, Diego, Jollibee and SpongeBob perform at the Isabela City Gymnasium.
The Mayor took the initiative to invite the cartoon characters to amuse the children which most of them had seen only through television and in other media ads.
“I can see my pupils also dancing while Dora and the rest perform their dance moves” said Ma. Luisa Mirasol, a day care worker in Sta. Barbara.
City Social Welfare Officer Lucia Locson said that the feeding program of the Mayor is laudable and parallel to the theme of Children’s Month celebration–’Proteksyon ng Bata, Pananagutan ng Bansa’ (Protection of the Child, Responsibility of the Nation).
“It is the desire of the Mayor to see that pre-schoolers are in good health at their crucial stage, the time of molding them,” she said.
Locson added that since the start of the Day Care Program in the City way back in 1995, they have observed that most of these children who gained pre-schooler learning excel in their primary and formal schooling.
Mayor Akbar thanked the Day Care Workers for their active participation, and for the time, effort and determination they allotted to the children and guiding them to the good things that every child should learn during the early stage.
“I appreciate your patience and hard work to teach and impart [to] these children with the right wellness, far from abuses, exploitation and harsh life. I am happy to announce that next year, your subsidy allowance have increased to P1, 500 as city counterpart from P1, 200,” Mayor Akbar stressed.
Day Care Workers are receiving allowance from their respective barangay separate from the subsidy given by the Office of the City Mayor.
On the other hand, Mrs. Locson informed that her Office and a contingent of 12 pre-schoolers will represent Isabela City to join the sayawit competition in Zamboanga City. The said competition is one of the highlights in the activities conducted during the Childrens’ Congress last October 30, 2009 at the Department of Social Welfare Development Regional Office IX.
The month of October has been declared as National Children’s Month under Proclamation No. 267 on September 30, 1993, in recognition of the Filipino children as the most valuable asset of the nation and their vital role in nation building.
The theme of this year’s celebration is in support of the campaign to end violence against children. (Faisal Saddalani)
