TINGOG Sinirangan Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre urged fellow lawmakers to tackle the measure strengthening Youth Development and Welfare Programs.

The two representatives filed House Bill 2716 seeking to bolster youth development and welfare programs by institutionalizing social welfare and development operations in the barangay level as well as truancy operations in every barangay.

The bill also aims to increase the number of guidance counselors in schools.

The solons also stressed the need to establish information drives, school-based feeding program, Bahay Pag-asa and foster care program.

The measure also seeks to impose stiffer penalties for parental liability and ensuring protection of the children in conflict with the law.

The lawmakers stressed healthy development means children of all abilities, including those with special healthcare needs, are able to grow whether their physical, mental, social, emotional, educational, medical, and physiological needs are met.

“Children must feel safe, sound, and secure at home, at school, or wherever they may be,” the solons said in their explanatory note.