The Child-Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) Course held on November 24-28, 2014 at Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City was graced by Naga City’s notable local officials.

Hon. John G. Bongat, Naga City Mayor, opened the five-day training course on CFLG with a very inspiring message. He emphasized that being a child-friendly city was not easy to achieve. The city went through a number of challenges, but these did not stop them from striving for a child-friendly society.

The site visit orientation, on the other hand, was provided by Hon. Nelson S. Legacion, Naga City Vice Mayor. He shared how the Nagueños contributed in making all the projects and programs for children possible.

During the last day of the training, the participants were visited by Hon. Leni G. Robredo, Congresswoman of the 3rd district of Camarines Sur and wife of late DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. She narrated how working in a non-government organization that promotes the rights of women and children helped her to strongly advocate for children’s rights and welfare.

A total of 18 participants from the Municipalities of Alangalang in Leyte, Lawaan, Salcedo, and Guiuan in Eastern Samar, and Marabut in Western Samar attended the training. Mayor Melchor Mergal of Salcedo participated in the course for Eastern Samar while the other municipalities were represented by the members of their Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC).

The training course was conducted by the Local Governance and Development Office (LGDO) under the Center for Governance (CFG) of the Development Academy of the Philippines, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The course aimed at equipping the LCPCs of Local Government Units (LGUs) with the knowledge and skills on CFLG.