Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is urging all local chief executives to put children’s concerns on top of their agenda by allocating one percent (1%) of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for programs and projects of the local councils for the protection of children (LCPC) pursuant to Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

Citing Section 15 of RA 9344, Robredo said the law does not only mandate local government units (LGUs) to establish their LCPCs at the city, municipal and barangay levels, but calls on them to allocate 1% of their IRA for the strengthening and implementation of programs, projects and activities of LCPCs as well.

“While this (1% IRA allocation) is required under the law, it is incumbent upon our LGUs to continuously promote and protect the rights and welfare of the young members of our society by supporting the LCPCs,” he said. The LCPC is an institutional mechanism in all levels of LGUs that advocates rights, plans and initiates/ recommends interventions and monitors children’s programs and projects in the locality.

Projects and activities that can be funded by the 1% IRA for LCPCs are the following: preparation of the Local Development Plan for Children, Local Investment Plan for Children, Local Code for Children and Local State of Children’s Report; assistance to children in need of special protection; development of advocacy materials on children; installation of a local information system on children’s situation; documentation of good practices on children; and monitoring of the enforcement of national and local laws on children by LGUs, among others.

The DILG Secretary pointed out that local governments may even increase allocation for LCPCs beyond the 1% requirement of the law to ensure that all plans for children are provided with funds and implemented.

“We also encourage LGUs to outsource funds or to engage in partnership with private and civil society organizations that provide financial assistance for the implementation of LCPC programs, projects and activities,” he added.

Robredo said such LCPC activities may also be charged against the 20% development fund of the LGUs as mandated by Section 287 of the Local Government Code, particularly in the realization of the goals for social development of the community. ###

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