MANILA - Mayor William Jao together with his delegation attended the national awarding ceremonies of the 2011 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang Palace, on October 27. Among the 1,000 municipalities in the whole country, Tubigon is one of the five municipalities which qualified as national finalist for the 1 st-3 rd Class Category of the award. Other municipalities in the same category included Mariveles, Bataan; Agoo, La Union; Jordan, Guimaras; and San Mateo, Isabela. Mariveles, Bataan bagged the award for the category. Previously, the town has been a finalist in 2008 and 2009 thus rounding up to its third time. President Benigno Aquino III acknowledged the finalists and conferred the awards to the eventual winners.

The ceremonies were graced by other distinct personalities coming from the President’s cabinet such as the chair of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. CWC Executive Director Brenda S. Vigo joined the Cabinet secretaries during the awarding rites Soliman led the handing of the plaques of recognition to the national finalists coming from fourth to sixth class and first to third class municipalities, component cities and highly-urbanized cities. She was assisted by Sec. Robredo. Another partner of the CWC, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Country representative Vanessa Tobin took an active part of the event. She was also awarded the plaque of appreciation for her valuable efforts and services towards upholding the rights and welfare of Filipino children.

UNICEF also launched their coffee table book entitled, “Journey with Children” which captures unguarded moments and tells the stories of 45 children who are struggling to uphold their rights to survive, develop and be protected from harm. In his message, President Aquino urged all the municipalities and cities to continue upholding the dignity and welfare of every Filipino child as they are the hope of the nation. He commended the laudable efforts of both the city and local government officials in their untiring efforts in promoting the rights and welfare of the children. The event was hosted by Miss Universe 2010 4 th Runner-Up and Children’s Rights and Welfare Ambassadress Ma. Venus Raj.