ANGELES CITY — The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC)-Central Luzon conferred the Gawad Makabata (Local Chief Executive Category) to Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. during the 31st National Children’s Month Regional Culminating Ceremony held on Nov. 22.
This is the second year in a row that the city government under Lazatin received the award for “substantial contributions in ensuring the children’s right to survival, development, protection, and participation.”
Since taking office in 2019, Lazatin has made the welfare of children as a priority program of the city government.
With his call that “No Angeleño youth will be left behind in terms of education,” the city government provided free school supplies and gear to all public school students and daycare learners in the city.
Lazatin also established the Kanlungan ng Kabataan Reformation Center, a P50-million project that aims to provide shelter and rehabilitation for homeless individuals and support youth in need of care and guidance. The center is a multifaceted facility encompassing the Bahay Pag-Asa, Sagip Batang Solvent Reformation Center, Home for the Girls, and temporary shelters for homeless families and mentally-challenged individuals.
The center will collaborate with the Department of Education to provide an alternative learning system and enlist the assistance of TESDA for training programs.
In the 2022 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the city also received the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance with a 92.46 rating.
Lazatin together with city social welfare and development officer Edna Duaso, and CSWDO Social Worker IV Francis De Guzman received the Gawad Makabata in ceremonies at the Good Shepherd Hall, SACOP Ephatha, City of San Fernando. Punto News Team/Angeles CIO
