SULU, Philippines - Sulu's indicator on primary education posted high in the implementation of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) assisted Sixth Country Program for Children (CPC-6), the official Philippine News Agency said.
This is based on the resent findings of the latest Sub-Regional Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (SR-MICS) conducted late last year.
The SR-MICS, a joint project of the UNICEF and the National Statistics Office, was designed to provide baseline information for assessing the situation of children and women in the 24 provinces and cities covered in CPC-6.
Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Bertrand A. Chio said during the SR-MICS Analysis Review Workshop held last November 4-6 at the Area Coordinating Center in Patikul town that the MICS results showed that Sulu scored high in primary education indicators. Of the 24 provinces and cities, Sulu, side by side with Pasay City, ranked number one in the indicator pointing to the percentage of children in Grade 1 who survive to Grade 6.
In the same survey, the province however scored alarmingly on indicators pointing to households consuming iodized salt, and on attending early childhood education for ages 3-5. The indicators ranked low for birth registration, exclusive breastfeeding of 0-3 months, birth delivered in health facilities, and for fully immunized babies by 12 months.
Chio said the MICS results reveal that the province is doing well in its advocacy and on its resolve to provide programs to uplift the lives of women and children.
On other indicators such as access to potable water, antenatal care, assistance at delivery, Vitamin A and iron supplementation, and knowledge on children's rights – all have acceptable ratings. In addition, programs to address the problem on early childhood education, and child labor in the province, indicators show that these need to be hastened.
In an official letter, UNICEF representative to the Philippines, Nicholas Alipui informed Governor Abdusakur M. Tan that the MICS report, although it is still a draft, is the most recent, reliable and up to date baseline information on the assessment of the situation of children and women in the 24 provinces and cities covered by CPC-6. Alipui said the MICS report will serve as the basis for developing future plans, programs, policies and advocacy materials for the realization of the rights of children in the provinces and cities covered by UNICEF.
Elated with the results of the survey, Governor Tan attributed the achievement to the continued cooperation, partnership and commitment of the partner agencies like the Integrated Provincial Health Office, the Department of Education, the Department of Interior & Local Governemnt, the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He also cited the cooperation and advocacy of the Philippine National Police, the state-run dxSM-Radyo ng Bayan, the Department of Labor and Employment, the SDM Vicariate, Provincial Planning and Development Office, local officials and other stakeholders in pursuing programs that would further improve the lives of children and women.
Governor Tan, however, said that are still much to be done to sustain the program and address those indicators that were poorly rated.
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