Davao City: The Davao City government has further strengthened its child protection program with the development of the Child Protection Policy Modules developed in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).
After weeks of working on the document, the Child Protection Policy Modules were finally launched online on Tuesday, June 22, 2020, to complement the city’s existing child protection programs managed by the Integrated Gender Development Division (IGDD), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), other government agencies, and the Kean Gabriel Hotline: 0908 818 4444.
The modules, which will be implemented in all public and private schools in Davao City starting school year 2020-2021, contain age-appropriate learning instructions for all subjects aligned with the K to 12 Curriculum. One of the topics is “Pag-amping sa Kabataan ug Kaluwasan Gikan sa Kadautan” for Grade 3 students under the Values Education subject.
Through the use of the modules, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte said the city government wants to see children of all ages more aware and can determine what is wrong and where to go to seek protection against abusers.
“Basically, isa lang gusto nato makita sa mga bata across all ages from daycare to senior high school – mahibalo sila when this is wrong and they can say this is wrong, and know kung asa sila mosulti, or mosumbong. And Kung mosumbong sila, matabangan sila (Basically, we want to see that all children across all ages from day care to senior high school – they can determine when this is wrong and they can say this is wrong and know where to complain. Also, they will be answered when they complain),” she said.
The development of modules was necessary after Mayor Sara expressed concern over the rise in the number of reported rape cases during the Peace and Order Council meeting in December 2019.
According to the 2020 data from Davao City Police Office (DCPO), 40 percent of the cases are perpetrated by individuals age between 18 and 25 years old. The majority of the victims are female students from the age range 12-17 years old in 2019 and 2020.
In March 2020, the city government and DepEd signed a Memorandum of Agreement to work together on the project entitled “Protection Against Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination” as one of the intervention programs against rape.
DepEd through its Learning Resource (LR) Management Section conducted a mapping of the competencies to be utilized in the modules.
LR Supervisor Dr. Aris Juanillo worked closely with select LR writers, evaluators, and illustrators to craft the learning materials which underwent a series of evaluation, document checking, and finalization to ensure its quality.
The city government’s IGDD and DepEd also actively collaborated in the module making and training.
The launch live-streamed on the Davao City Disaster Radio 87.5, and Davao City Disaster Radio Facebook Page was attended by Mayor Sara, DepEd Davao City Division officials, and other stakeholders. CIO