‘...go chase your dreams, love your culture, and keep away from what destroys your future’ – Mayor Abay to Tinglayan’s children during State of the Children Address

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Mayor Charles Abay, speaking before the children of Tinglayan on December 4, emphasized that every child is treasured and encouraged them to stay away from things that could destroy their future.

Abay made the statement during his State of the Children’s Address, delivered by Municipal Administrator Atty. Mark Dave Bang-as, where he reported on the administration’s efforts to protect, nurture, and uphold the rights of children in the municipality.

“You are treasured. You are protected. You are the pride of this land. Isu nga a-annak, you go chase your dreams, love your culture, and keep away from what destroys your future, because you, kids, are the future of our municipality, our province, and our country. Iti LGU iti Tinglayan, ket adda kami lang ditoy; we will walk with you every step of the way,” he stressed.

Health and Survival

According to the mayor, recent developments in the municipality include the 100% full immunization of eligible children with BCG, OPV, DPT-HiB-HepB, and measles vaccines – essential immunizations administered as part of routine vaccination programs to protect children from serious and potentially fatal diseases.

He added that the Municipal LGU has also improved children’s immunity, development, and nutritional status through nutrient supplementation such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, close monitoring of children aged 0–59 months, and supplemental meals for 382 daycare children, of which 15 of the 17 underweight children showed remarkable progress.

Additionally, Parent Effectiveness Services (PES) were conducted in various barangays, covering topics on positive parenting, healthy communication, and supportive family relationships, supporting parents to build stronger and healthier families in town.

Education, Child Protection, and Other Accomplishments

For education, Abay mentioned that the Municipal LGU continues to address challenges such as learning recovery and long distances students travel to reach their schools. He added that the LGU remains committed to ensuring accessible, relevant, and child-friendly education through programs like ‘Mentor Me’, public speaking training, and involvement of children in community affairs.

Likewise, the local chief executive emphasized that the LGU, along with local authorities, is actively implementing programs to keep children away from illegal drugs and other unlawful influences, while continuously monitoring the welfare of children in the municipality.

Other child-centered programs and accomplishments include:

• Providing early childhood care and development by operating daycare centers in barangays.

• Offering honoraria and tools for child development workers.

• Conducting supplemental feeding and upgrading facilities.

• School-based immunization and health interventions.

• Children empowerment through child rights promotion.

• Protection of at-risk and vulnerable children.

• Strengthening the functionality of the Local Council for the Protection of Children, which upholds the rights of every child in the municipality.

“May we continue to build a Tinglayan where every child thrives — physically, mentally, emotionally, and culturally,” the mayor concluded.