DIPOLOG CITY, AUG.
2(PIA)--- Four
municipalities in Zamboanga del Norte are among the local government units to
benefit from United Children’s Fund(UNICIEF)
initiatives in the Philippines.
This
was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint program of cooperation
on Investment Convergence for Equity for Children, inked between the Philippines
and the UNICEF.
Signatories for the Philippines were NEDA, the Department of the
Interior and Local Government, the concerned LGUs while UNICEF was led by its
Representative to the Philippines Tomoo Hozumi.
Under
the MOU, UNICEF
and the national government would provide technical assistance to the 36 LGUs
in terms of accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), particularly in strengthening policies and implementing social services
for children.
The
4 municipalities in Zamboanga del Norte are Leon Postigo, Tampilisan, Siayan
and Sindangan.
Aside from Zamboanga del Norte, the other municipalities are in the
provinces of Camarines Norte (Basud, Capalonga, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, and
Vinzons); Masbate (Milagros, Cawayan, Monreal, and Aroroy); Northern Samar
(Mapanas and Bobon); North Cotabato (Midsayap, President Roxas, Aleosan and
Arakan); Saranggani (Malungon); Sultan Kudarat (Kalamansig and Lebak);
Maguindanao (Parang, Upi, South Upi and Mamasapano); Sulu (Parang and Siasi);
and Tawi-Tawi (Languyan).
Meanwhile, the six cities are Puerto Princesa City, Zamboanga
City, Davao City, Cotabato City, Pasay City and Quezon City.
The 36 LGUs are part of the 609 priority LGUs that already
submitted local poverty reduction plans to national government agencies for
possible funding.
Socio
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said thirty(30) municipalities
and six (6) cities that would comprise the first batch of local government
units that would be part of the joint program of cooperation for 2012 to 2016.
Balisacan
said the
partnership exemplified the high level of enthusiasm and initiative of
municipal and city governments in pursuing projects that focus on the rights of
children.
One of the LGUs’ commitment was to formulate a technical
assistance plan to accelerate the attainment of MDGs for 2012 to 2013 within
the framework of their comprehensive development and land use plans, including
local poverty reduction plans.
The 36 LGUs are part of the 609 priority LGUs that already
submitted local poverty reduction plans to national government agencies for
possible funding.
”Through this joint program, we can provide the enabling
environment for LGUs to be aware of, committed to, and capacitated in
addressing the most urgent concerns for children in their respective localities,”
Balisacan said.
The LGUs will be assisted by the national government agencies,
UNICEF and other civil society organizations, with their respective Regional
Project Monitoring Committees (RPMC) chaired by the NEDA Regional Directors as
the responsible units for monitoring and evaluating the joint program.(ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)
