Gica highlights children safety, welfare in Soma

Local

CHILDREN'S safety and welfare in the town of Dumanjug are among the issues highlighted by Mayor Efren “Gungun” Gica during his State of the Municipality Address (Soma), which was part of the town’s celebration of its 171st Founding Anniversary.

Gica emphasized that the town’s development and progress should be measured not only by infrastructure and economic growth, but also by how well it protects and prepares its children for the future.

“Ato nang responsibilidad karon. Dili nato pasagdan nga ang atong mga anak maoy mobayad sa mga problema nga kitang mga hamtong ang angay mosulbad,” Gica said.

Gica said the local government unit (LGU) of Dumanjug is taking a holistic approach to child protection and welfare by addressing nutrition and healthcare.

In 2021, Dumanjug recorded a 35% stunting rate among children aged six to 59 months, but in 2026, the number decreased to 5%. This data is a result of the LGU’s efforts to ensure that children in the town are healthy through growth monitoring and strengthened nutrition and healthcare programs for children.

The LGU also allocated P6 million for its tutorial programs so that children can learn to read and comprehend, as well as provide educational assistance for SPED learners and other measures that strengthen child protection and welfare.

Gica also stated measures to address online sexual abuse and exploitation and illegal drugs that threaten the security of its youth.

He reported that the number of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) decreased from 19 in 2023 to 12 in 2024 and five in 2025, reaching zero as of the present. He said the LGU is working to maintain this record through intervention programs and by urging the community to help guide children.

Ensuring the health of its children is not the only matter the LGU is addressing, as it also implemented a curfew ordinance for minors and banned those below 21 years old from drinking and purchasing liquor.

The mayor said medical services were brought closer to the community by going to the barangays twice a week to provide healthcare services to residents, resulting in 18,923 community consultations.

For maternal and child health, the LGU has served around 5,000 mothers, while close to 5,000 children have availed themselves of immunization services.

The LGU continues to strengthen its health services, noting that since 2024, the town’s Rural Health Unit (RHU) has been upgraded and has become a licensed primary healthcare facility.

This year, its animal bite treatment center also became a DOH- and PhilHealth-licensed facility and has served more than 1,000 patients.

Aside from child protection and health services, Gica also reported accomplishments of his administration in infrastructure from road concreting to the construction and rehabilitation of government building which amounted to P87 million.

He also mentioned ongoing partnerships and initiatives undertaken by the LGU in agriculture, tourism, employment, livelihood, among others, which benefit its people.(MyTVCebu)