ILOILO CITY -- Some 300 children-at-risk (CAR) in Iloilo City have been identified as initial recipients of free whistles under the “Pito Para sa Bata” of the Iloilo City Council for the Protection of Children (ICCPC).
Social welfare officer Merlyn Gizon and focal person on child and youth welfare program said in an interview on Thursday that they have decided to “mainstream” in their advocacy program the provision of protection whistles.
It is a campaign to ensure children’s safety against illegal drugs, abuse and exploitation, calamities and disasters, under the “Comprehensive Program for Children At-risk in the Street.”
Together with a free whistle they will also be provided with PVC bag tags with emergency hotline numbers that they can call, Gizon said.
The initial recipients are beneficiaries of the task force on street children because they are “more vulnerable.”
She assured that they hope to expand the project next year to probably include children in day-care center, and elementary and secondary students.
The whistles will be released on December 11 to mark the culmination of the National Children’s Month in the city. It will be held simultaneous with the awarding of the 2017 Most Child-Friendly Barangay in Iloilo City. (PNA)
