00:10To the organizers of the Icons of Change International Awards, fellow honoris, partners from government, civil society and the private
00:18sector, ladies and gentlemen, isang makabatang araw po sa ating lahat, a child-friendly day to us all.
00:25I am Undersecretary Angelo M. Tapales, the Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children or CWC, the
00:32Philippine government's lead coordinating body for policies and programs that protect and promote the rights and welfare of every Filipino
00:41child.
00:41On behalf of the CWC, our partners across government and civil society, and the Filipino children, I am deeply honored
00:49to be recognized as one of the recipients of the Icons of Change International Awards 2026.
00:56But more than a personal milestone, this award reflects our never-ending work of ensuring that every Filipino child grows
01:04up safe, healthy, and empowered.
01:07The work of protecting children is, at its core, a commitment to sustainable development.
01:13Sustainable progress is not measured only by economic growth infrastructure.
01:18It is measured by whether our children are able to survive, to learn, to participate, and to realize their full
01:26potential.
01:27When we strengthen child protection systems, expand opportunities for young people, and empower communities to care for their children,
01:36we are laying the foundation for a more just, resilient, and sustainable society.
01:43At the Council for the Welfare of Children, we have pursued this vision through partnerships and systemic reforms.
01:49We have strengthened child-friendly local governance across the country, encouraged local governments to place children at the center of
01:58development planning.
01:59We have advanced the implementation of the Fourth National Plan of Action for Children, bringing together government agencies, local communities,
02:09civil society, and international partners
02:12to protect and promote children's rights.
02:14We have institutionalized the Makabata Helpline 1383, the central reporting system for all issues and concerns involving children, operating 24
02:25hours a day, 7 days a week.
02:28We have ensured that our voices are heard by legislators to guide them in crafting laws that continue to protect
02:35the rights and welfare of our children.
02:37At the same time, we have confronted emerging challenges that affect our young people, from violence and exploitation to the
02:45risks children face in the digital environment.
02:48By strengthening coordination among agencies and communities, we aim to build systems that not only respond to problems but help
02:57prevent them.
02:58These efforts are directly allied with the global pursuit of the sustainable development goals, particularly those that call for quality
03:07education, good health and well-being, strong institutions, and the protection of children from violence and exploitation.
03:15But none of these achievements belong to one individual or one institution alone.
03:21They are the result of collective commitment, from social workers and helpline officers who stand on the front lines of
03:28child protection,
03:29to teachers who nurture the dreams of the next generation, to local leaders who ensure that children's welfare remains a
03:38priority in their communities.
03:40The Icons of Change Award reminds us that meaningful change happens when people choose to serve beyond themselves.
03:49The future we seek, one that is inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate, will not be built by a single sector or
03:57a single generation.
03:59It will be built through unity, through shared responsibility, and through courage to act for the common good.
04:07So allow me to offer a simple encouragement to all of us.
04:11Let us continue to champion change, not only in our institutions, but in the lives of the people we serve.
04:19Let us work together so that every policy we create, every program we launch, and every partnership we form,
04:27bring us closer to a world where every child and every community can thrive.
04:34Because when we invest in children, we invest in the most powerful force for sustainable change.
04:41This is our legacy, not just for our community and our country, but for the entire world as well.
04:48Once again, to the organizers of the Icons of Change International Awards,
04:53thank you for reminding us that leadership is ultimately about service,
04:58and that true impact is measured by the hearts that we touch and the lives that we uplift.
05:05And let us not forget, ang bawat bata ay mahalaga.
05:09Every child is precious.
05:11Maraming salamat po.
05:18Maraming salamat po.
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