The Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) convened its first quarter meeting on February 1, 2024. The meeting took place at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Conference Room, Capitol Compound, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Ms. Vernice H. Balingue, Social Welfare Officer II/ Child and Youth Welfare Program Coordinator of the PSWDO, chaired the meeting. The gathering served as a forum for deliberating on crucial issues about child welfare within the province.

The meeting’s agenda included the 2023 Annual Accomplishment Report for Children, which provided a detailed overview of the initiatives and programs conducted in the preceding year and their impact on child welfare. The 2024 Annual Children’s Plan was also reviewed, with a focus on the proposed Programs, Projects, and Activities, and innovative programs for the forthcoming year aimed at improving the welfare of children in the province.

The Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) was another important item discussed during the meeting. The objective of the CFLGA is to assess the performance of the LGU in implementing child-friendly policies, programs, projects, and services, the indicators and means of verification (MOVs) needed under the categories of SURVIVAL, DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTION, PARTICIPATION, and GOVERNANCE. The Provincial Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (PIMTF) will guide the municipal Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force on CFLGA and its guidelines.

The PCWC’s first quarter meeting sets an optimistic and forward-thinking tone for the upcoming year, demonstrating the council’s ongoing commitment to promoting child welfare in Nueva Vizcaya. #mvs