The Provincial Government of Pampanga has launched the Child Abuse Prevention Network (CAPIN) on March 14, 2012 at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The program was created to effectively handle cases involving children and to promote greater awareness, understanding and improvement of services for child abuse victims.
During the big event, Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda thanked the DILG for the support it extends to the provincial government. She further requested the DILG to monitor the barangay officials in the performance of their functions in protecting the women and children in their respective barangays.
The Governor extended her utmost appreciation to the Consuelo Foundation for the launching of CAPIN in the province and the technical and financial assistance extended to support the program. She likewise thanked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao for the enactment of the Comprehensive Welfare Code for Children and possible funding for the implementation of the different programs.
On the other hand, DILG Regional Director Florida M. Dijan in her message said that the DILG is responding to its mandate of organizing the different local councils for the protection of children from the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels and the mandatory enactment of the Provincial/City/Municipal/Barangay Children’s Welfare Code. She believes that the project will achieve its objectives because of a strong partnership between the Governor and the SP, the different stakeholders like the Mayors, Liga ng mga Barangay, Non Government Organizations (NGOs) like the Consuelo Foundation, and the different concerned agencies like DSWD, DOH and DOJ.
In connection with this program, the DSWD has built an edifice called “Haven,” in Magalang, Pampanga, a place where victims/abused women are housed to protect them from their perpetrators. The provincial government also has 14 volunteer lawyers to assist the victims especially in the filing of cases against their perpetrators. Also, under the CAPIN program. Child Protection Units (CPUs) will be established in every district hospitals in Pampanga. As an attestation, the CPU at Romana Pangan District Hospital in Floridablanca has just been inaugurated before the launching of the CAPIN.
One of the highlights of the activity was the turn-over of the Protocol Manual of CAPIN Pampanga to DILG RD Dijan, Managing Director of Consuelo Foundation Mr. Salvosa and to the Pampanga Mayors’ League represented by Mayor Eduardo M. Guerrero.
Other guests during the event were DSWD Assistant Secretary Florita Villar, DSWD Regional Director Adelina Apostol, DILG Pampanga Provincial Director Angelina Blanco, Consuelo Foundation, Philippine Branch Managing Director Ray Dean Salvosa, members of the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC), selected members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) specifically the Punong Barangays, Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, Principals of Elementary Schools, NGOs, provincial officials and employees, and PNP.
