In celebration of Children’s Month, the Child Protection Committee of Subic National High School invited the Preda Foundation to give a seminar on Strengthening the Child Protection Committee as mandated by DepEd Order No. 40 series of 2012 last 15 November 2023. About 20 teachers and head teacher attended the activity that is part of their month-long celebration of Children’s Month that will culminate on Friday, November 24 with a presentation by the Preda advocacy theater group.

 

Francis Bermido Jr., president of the Preda Foundation, discussed the salient provisions of DepEd Order No. 40 series of 2012 and its practical implementation as well as relevant laws that protect the rights of children. Reyna Acobera, on the other hand, talked about warning signs of child abuse based on her experience of working directly with victims of sexual abuse and trafficking.

 

The highlight of the seminar was the testimony of two survivor-advocates, Althea and Kimberly, who both talked about the important role of teachers and guidance counsellors in helping their students. They appealed to the teachers to listen to their students, be their trusted friend and to be always ready to answer the call of duty and help students who become victims of abuse. Althea and Kimberly, now young adults, were helped by their respective teachers when in high school and they were referred to the Preda Foundation. Kimberly is now a social work student in Columban College while Althea is a member of the Preda advocacy theater group that toured Germany in August-September earlier this year.