MANILA - 20 October 2003 - The National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice & Peace (NASSA) and nine Diocesan Social Action Centers (DSACs) from around the Philippines join the country in celebrating National Children's Month this October. The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) calculates that 0-17 year-old children constitute 41 percent of the Philippines' total population of 76.5 million. The CWC also reports that Filipino children face difficult circumstances including poverty (33.7 percent of the 15.2 million families live below the poverty threshold), maternal mortality (172 maternal deaths in every 100,000 deliveries; 60 percent of pregnancies are risky; 1 in 25 females aged below 18 years bears a child), infant mortality (30.7 infant deaths in every 1,000 live births), lack of education (66.3 percent completion rate and 9.03 dropout rate in the elementary level), child abuse (4,065 sexually abused females and 64 males in 2002), and armed conflict (child soldiers account for 13 to 18 percent of armed rebel groups acting s combatants, couriers, guides, medical aides or spies). "Opportunities remain elusive to children because of poverty," NASSA Executive Secretary Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, spc, says. "To eke out a living, children are forced to engage in risky activities." She adds, "Poverty and people's callousness drive children's fragility to precarious limits; these unfortunate victims need compassion." NASSA operationalizes its concern for children through a program that provides technical and financial aid to projects based in Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the dioceses around the Philippines. Started in 2000, NASSA's Children and Women Program is so far providing support to 11 DSACs (Calapan, Dumaguete, Jolo, Malaybalay, Baguio, Manila, Maasin, Urdaneta, and Digos) focusing on the effective and efficient delivery of basic services particularly in health and education. Children's Month in the country was first celebrated when then President Fidel Ramos signed Presidential Proclamation No. 267 in 1993. This year's celebration carries the theme Mundong Payapa, Handog sa Bata (A Peaceful World for the Child). Marking their first concerted participation in the said celebration, nine DSACs from around the country have lined up activities with varying duration of implementation. In Luzon, DSAC Gumaca, in coordination with local school officials, will spearhead a schoolchildren's parade; on-the-spot drawing, slogan making, and essay writing contests; quiz bee; cultural presentation; and interpretative portrayal of the Mysteries of Light.Meanwhile, DSAC Daet is conducting a comprehensive campaign spanning the whole month of October with the following highlights: division Science and Math competition, statistical exhibit and gallery of good practices of speedy dispensation of aging cases involving children, Sagot Mo - I Child Info Mo, Planning Workshop on Child Labor, Libreng Gupit for Children, Garantisadong Pambata/Patak Asin, poster making contest, toothbrush drill for children, group discussions, statistics quiz, advocacy and networking seminar on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC), slogan contest, Food Awareness Week, Children's Day/Play Day, and assemblies. In the Visayas, the Sogod, Leyte-based Daughters of Charity will convene a youth congress and sponsor free clinic/reflexology and feeding. Likewise, DSAC Dumaguete will hold a youth and children's congress in parishes. Through homilies, pastoral letters and broadcast and other media, DSAC Dumaguete will also popularize the CRC. It will also gather data on cases of children abuses. For its part, DSAC San Carlos is collaborating with the local government unit and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the area to strengthen their partnership in child protection. The diocese aims to raise people's awareness on the situation of children in Negros Island through a draw- and-tell contest, singing contest, feeding, free clinic, education children's rights, and proper nutrition for the mothers. Four DSACs in Mindanao - Malaybalay, Isabela de Basilan, Dipolog, and Zamboanga - have their respective versions of the celebration. DSAC Malaybalay will air radio plugs discussing children's rights and welfare and the role of children and youth in society. In addition, a campaign dubbed Wow! Yan ang Bata includes activities such as game shows, pop quiz, riddles, poem recitation, and story telling focusing on desirable Filipino values and children's rights. Meanwhile, DSAC Basilan will launch a feeding activity, toothbrush drill and free public viewing of children's movies. Partnering with the municipal health office for health care and nutrition, DSAC Dipolog will conduct an information drive on children's health, dental outreach, free physical check up for children up to six years old, including their mothers, and training on children's supplemental food preparation. DSAC Zamboanga will initiate collaboration with government agencies and nongovernmental organization dealing with children. It will popularize the CRC by introducing it to BECs and provide assistance to children with disabilities. Sr. Rosanne observes that the DSAC-initiated activities are "creative ways of responding to the needs of children who are attacked by many problems from all planes." "The Church has a crucial role to play in cultivating awareness on children's rights and welfare; and the DSACs are showing the way," Sr. Rosanne concludes. About NASSA-Caritas Philippines: The National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace-Caritas Philippines is the Social Action Arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. For inquiries, contact: Roel Andag Advocacy Coordinator email: staff@nassa.org.ph voice: 632-5274146; 632-5274134