Dumaguete City will represent Central Visayas in the national search for the Most Child-Friendly City in October after beating three other entries in the regional competition, its fourth win since 2002.

The city bested the municipalities of Sibulan also in Negros Oriental, Dalaguete of Cebu province, and Inabanga of Bohol in the final screening and presentation by the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children during its full committee at the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Cebu City.

The search was open to cities and municipalities in the first to third class category.

Dumaguete will receive P50,000 worth of projects plus a child-friendly seal at the awarding ceremony to be held during the Children's Month celebration in October.

The DSWD said the city will use the prize to sustain its child-friendly program.

During the final screening, the RSCWC noted the city government's accomplishments in the delivery of basic services and institutional projects that include a reduced malnutrition rate from 12 percent last year to two percent this year.

It also cited the city's partnership with civic groups like the Rotary Club of Dumaguete.

Among the groups, the Rotary Club of Dumaguete East stood out for donating P350,000 for supplemental feeding.

Other criteria the city met that gave it high points are its vitamin supplement project to malnourished children and the fight against infant mortality; the passing of a city ordinance promoting a child friendly program such as parent-child care; continuing building of day care centers; and barangay child participation in the Fifth Country Program for Children of the United Nations Children's Fund.*RG

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