UNICEF ties up with Lanao del Sur provincial government

LANAO DEL SUR -- The United Nations Children’s Fund and the provincial government of Lanao del Sur have fused ranks to sustain children’s welfare and protection from conflicts.Thousands of children were affected by last year’s five-month conflict in Marawi City that combined Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists instigated.Marawi City is the capital of Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns and a component-province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.In a statement Monday, the office of Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Alonto-Adiong said the UNICEF and the provincial government facilitated last week a two-day orientation for key barangay officials on the role of children in society and the issues confronting them.The two-day activity involving presidents of the association of barangay chairpersons from Lanao del Sur’s 39 towns was assisted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM.The event was held in Cagayan de Oro City, according to the press statement emailed Monday by the governor’s office.UNICEF representatives discussed lengthily during the gathering the importance of investing on welfare programs benefiting children in Lanao del Sur.Officials of DILG-ARMM also lectured on how local government units can qualify for the yearly Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Award from the central office of the department.The grant of the award, an annual program of DILG’s central office, is in recognition of the efficiency of recipient-LGUs in implementing programs focused on children’s welfare and protection.