Balbalan’s children protection council achieves 100% assessment score

“Every now and then, amin nga kasapulan dagitoy focal persons ko ket budgetak nga talaga, ta importante ti pondo. No awan budget, mabaybay-an dagiti programa… Kayat ko nga ipakita nga kaya tayo nga aramiden, isu nga kunak, pondoan tayo amin dagiti para iti ubbing tayo. Ta dagiti ubbing tayo, isu ti number one nga prioridad tayo.” - Mayor Almar Malannag.

Balbalan, Kalinga – The Balbalan Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) has marked another milestone after achieving a perfect score in the provincial assessment—an indication of the town’s exemplary performance in promoting and protecting the welfare of its children.

The MCPC is the primary council responsible for safeguarding the rights, health, education, and overall well-being of children in the municipality. It formulates local plans of action for children, advocates for child-focused policies, and coordinates efforts to protect them from abuse and exploitation.

In the provincial assessment conducted by the Provincial Women and Children Protection Assessment Task Team, the Balbalan MCPC earned a perfect score of 100 percent, placing it under the “Ideal” rating—the highest standard in child-rights-responsive governance.

The achievement reflects the municipality’s strong implementation of programs and initiatives that promote the welfare and protection of iBalbalan children.

In an interview, Mayor Almar Malannag said the recognition is a result of the collective efforts of the council, emphasizing that programs for children are sustained through proper funding and support.

“Every now and then, amin nga kasapulan dagitoy focal persons ko ket budgetak nga talaga, ta importante ti pondo. No awan budget, mabaybay-an dagiti programa… Kayat ko nga ipakita nga kaya tayo nga aramiden, isu nga kunak, pondoan tayo amin dagiti para iti ubbing tayo. Ta dagiti ubbing tayo, isu ti number one nga prioridad tayo,” he said.

The mayor also expressed his appreciation to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), headed by Carolyn Sagasag; focal person Janiz Alunday; the members of the Local Finance Committee; the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Regina Munda Cruz; and all members of the MCPC for their continued efforts in ensuring that children in Balbalan are safe, protected, and well cared for.