At least 300 vice mayors from across the country gathered in Cebu City for the “2024 Summit on Children: A Legislative Conference on the Welfare and Protection of Children” organized by the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP).
In support, the Cebu Provincial Government hosted welcome dinner on November 6 at a hotel in Cebu City.
It was attended by Gov. Gwen Garcia; San Mariano, Isabela Vice Mayor Dean Anthony Domalanta, who is also the VMLP national president; and Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia who, prior to assuming the chief executive position at the city hall, had served as national vice president of VMLP.
The three-day summit, with the theme “Break the Prevalence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines”, is a part of a month-long celebration of Children’s Month.
It features lectures and discussions on key child welfare issues, with input from government agencies including the Council for the Welfare of Children, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Justice, and Department of Labor and Employment.
Insights were also shared by speakers from the Province of Cebu, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the International Justice Mission.
In their joint manifesto, participants reaffirmed their commitment to addressing pressing issues such as child protection, child participation, and the effects of climate change on children. The manifesto stresses the need for LGUs to prioritize these areas in order to secure the future of children across the country.
In true Cebuano fashion, the vice mayors were entertained by award-winning festival showcase from around Cebu. | JMT