‘The Filipino child can dream again’
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday said it is time for the Filipino child to dream again as he vowed to work hard in giving them a bright future.
In his extemporaneous speech at the 20th anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the President said the children today are luckier compared to the children during the Martial Law years when he was barely 12 years old and aware that there was no promising future for them.
Speaking in the vernacular to some 500 children who attended the event at the Malacañang’s Heroes Hall, the President vowed that his administration will work hard to give the youth of today better lives.
“It is our obligation to give you a bright future,” he stressed as he asked the youth to be government’s partner in realizing a progressive Philippines.
He said it is important that the youth guide their guardians to take the righteous path to progress.
“Let us all work together for change,” he said.
The President said it is his government’s priority to give the youth quality healthcare, education and shelter.
He said he will make sure that the 40 percent of Filipinos who can’t afford to see a health professional will be able to access quality healthcare through the use of modern technology such as the internet.
Moreover, he stressed that education is the key to a better life thus the increase in the 2011 budget of the Department of Education.
“Education gives you the opportunity to improve your lives. The government is giving you the opportunity so I hope you use this opportunity wisely,” he said.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of children.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention and opened it for signature on Nov. 20, 1989 and came into force on Sept. 1990, after it was ratified by the required number of nations.
As of November 2009, 194 countries have ratified it, including every member of the United Nations except Somalia and the United States of America.
The Philippines ratified the Convention in September 1990.*PNA
