Davao City is already one of the world’s safest cities, but in the Philippines, it’s the most child-friendly, having won the title Most Child-Friendly Highly Urbanized City for the fourth time.
The award was revealed by Dr. Helen Paguican, Davao City Schools Divison Superintendent of the Department of Education. The award is based on programs and projects started by the local government to protect the rights of children. Davao City has won the award in 1998, 1999, and 2013, and beats other urbanized cities like Manila, Quezon City, Makati, and Cebu.
Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte started projects that help and protect children, like a halfway house for young cancer patients from Mindanao; The House of Hope, a special project that gives shelter, counseling, and financial support to children with cancer at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC); a strong anti-crime campaign, and an impressive drug rehabilitation facility for the youth.
Duterte is also known for spending holidays like Christmas, and even his birthdays, with young cancer patients. He even buys toys for them personally.
He believes that it is his duty is to make sure that the children of Davao are safe from drugs and crime because they will be the leaders of the future.
According to Dr. Paguican, if Davao City wins the most child-friendly award next year, they will be included in the hall of fame.
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