The City Government of San Fernando through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) continues with the year-long activities of “PANAGKIKIBIN: Bringing a Brighter Future for the Children of San Fernando City” after its stall due to community quarantine restrictions. This project which started last 2018 aims to provide intervention measures including Community Rehabilitation for Children-at-Risk (CAR) and Children-In-Conflict-with-the-Law (CICL) here in the City. The project’s Phase 3 involving Skills Training was re-launched last July 28, 2020 in Barangays Bato, Lingsat, Parian and Tanqui.

During the event, CSWDO provided cloth clippings and molders to four (4) of the seven (7) CARs and CICLs in different barangay beneficiaries. This is to give the children opportunity to earn income by making foot rugs out of cloth clippings. The CSWDO will in turn assist in marketing and selling finished products which are usually being bought by supportive City employees. According to CSWDO, this Income Generating Project (IGP) started last year as trainings were already provided to beneficiaries. The other three (3) recipients from Barangays Langcuas, Sevilla and Poro will receive their IGP sets today, August 4, 2020.

Further, additional totebags containing vegetable seeds for backyard farming and information, education and communication (IEC) materials from Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) were also given to the said beneficiaries. Barangay health workers, barangay officials, police officers, and parents also received a set of JJWC IEC materials intended to reiterate their crucial role and responsibilities in protecting children and upholding their rights.

In their desire to sustain this project, CSWDO plans to complete the PANAGKIKIBIN Phase 4 in the remainder of this year as fifteen (15) more beneficiaries will be involved.

The City Government continues to build stronger and more resilient communities by safeguarding and upholding the rights of the people of San Fernando regardless of age, background and identity.

For inquiries about sellable foot rugs, you may call the CSWDO at 687-8100 local 117.

(Story by Jeddahn Rosario)

(Photos by Clifford Mercado)