NEWS RELEASE||𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒: 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐸𝑑 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑎

𝗕𝘆: 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 | 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 (𝗖𝗣𝗖) 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆.

The workshop brought together Division Learner Rights and Protection focal persons, their alternates, legal officers, and select school heads who serve as Child Protection Committee (CPC) Chairpersons. The event aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of child protection protocols and enhance their ability to handle cases involving children in educational settings.

Key topics included an introduction to learner rights and protection, a comprehensive review of DepEd Order No. 40 (Child Protection Policy) and DepEd Order No. 55 (Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013), and a discussion on the duties and responsibilities of schools and division offices in managing bullying incidents.

Participants also engaged in mindfulness sessions and workshops on managing children at risk (CAR) and children in conflict with the law (CICL). Resource persons from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shared insights into their community-based programs and services. Representatives from the Regional Council for the Protection of Children (RCWC) and the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) discussed referral pathways and other child protection policies.

The highlight was an orientation on the CPC Functionality Assessment Tool, presented by Ma. Phoebe D. Agao, Technical Assistant II of DepEd Learner Rights and Protection Office (LRPO)- Central Office. The tool helps schools and division offices evaluate the effectiveness of their child protection mechanisms.

Dr. Edmund D. Mendoza, Chief of the Education Support Services Division (ESSD), emphasized the significance of the training in safeguarding learners, particularly during large-scale events such as the Palarong Pambansa and Schools Press Conferences. “This workshop is crucial in reinforcing our commitment to child safety. It empowers CPC members and focal persons to handle sensitive cases with competence and care,” Mendoza said.

In her statement of purpose, Dr. Adrilene Mae J. Castaños, Project Development Officer IV and Regional LRPO Focal Person lauded the active participation of both seasoned and first-time attendees. “It is inspiring to see new faces joining this initiative. Together, we are building a stronger and more responsive network for child protection across the region,” she said.

The workshop is part of DepEd Caraga’s broader efforts to institutionalize and operationalize child protection policies, ensuring holistic well-being and safety of learners within and beyond the classroom.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-08-73; 0977-739-44-53. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

See more photos here: https://shorturl.at/MrAvT

END