North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza

CHILDREN are at the heart of province’s progress, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza  said in her 2025 Provincial State of the Children Report on Friday, Nov. 28.

The governor delivered the report before hundreds of children and local chief executives of municipalities during the culmination event of the National Children’s Month celebration.

“The Provincial Government of Cotabato, in close collaboration with its partners and the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC), continues to reinforce programs on health, nutrition, education, and child protection,” Mendoza said.

She added the province through PCPC envisions a child-friendly Cotabato Province by 2034 where “every child healthy, protected, and empowered.”

Mendoza reported the provincial government has invested P45.5 million in child-centered programs covering education, health, nutrition, and protection to realize the vision.

“This is not merely a financial commitment but statement of hope and opportunity-supporting programs that expand access to learning, strengthen healthcare, and protect children from neglect and exploitation,” she added.

More than a camp, Mendoza said SKPC empowered young Cotabateños to become advocates of peace and positive

change- as the activities focused on peace education, leadership, cultural appreciation, and disaster preparedness.

Cotabato government also conducted Bookmobile Library Services Program bringing education closer to every child through reading to 6,303 pupils in 48 schools across the province from March to October 2025. 

In terms of protecting child’s rights, the Home for Women and Children, served as haven to those have suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

From January to October 2025, a total of 30 client-survivors, girls aged 2-17 and woman aged 18-19 received comprehensive care and psychosocial support.

Moreover, 11 survivors was able to reunite with their families; 29 have returned to school, and five clients testified in court, with four placed under the Witness Protection Program for their safety.

“Backed by a P3,074,708 budget, this initiative reflects Cotabato’s enduring compassion and commitment to transform victims into empowered survivors who can rebuild their lives with dignity, courage, and hope,” Mendoza said.

For the children’s nutrition, the province achieved a significant reduction in malnutrition rates from 2021-2025.

Stunting among children under five declined from 9.25% to 2.89%; wasting is down from 2.73% to 0.60%, and overweight and obesity dropped from 2.42% to 0.83%. 

“These gains underscore the effectiveness of our collective efforts toward building a healthier, stronger, and more nourished Cotabato,” she said. 

In 2025 alone, over 10,000 mothers and 4,400 children received micronutrient supplementation: 3,000 undernourished children and nutritionally at-risk women benefited from dietary support; and 50 barangay health stations were equipped for better growth monitoring. 

About 5,500 pupils also availed vision screening, 10,000 youth receive health kits and more than 10,000 newborns were screened for early detection of treatable conditions.

In the performance of schools, retention rates remain high—97.82% in Elementary, 91.63% in Junior High School, and 95.54% in Senior High School. Mendoza noted that most of the learners stay in school.

However, she reported a decline in completion and promotion rates, particularly in Junior High School where completion dropped to 74.95%.

“We are responding through academic and psychosocial support programs to ensure that no learner is left behind,” she said.

She stressed that a total of P75 million was allocated to initiatives in advancing learning, literacy, sports, and safe school environments.

This includes P10.5 million allocation in the Regional and National Schools Press Conferences, to inspire young campus journalists; Soccsksargen Regional Athletics Association (SRAA) Meet and Palarong Pambansa has been allocated P9.5 million; P10 million for Supplementary Reading Materials Program to 164 schools in 51 districts. 

Meanwhile, a P45.5 million was invested in the construction and completion of school buildings and covered courts in Aleosan, Libungan, Pigcawayan, Pikit, Antipas, and Makilala. 

A 14 million fund was also allocated to support of 1,077 Child Development Workers who serve as frontliners in early education.

“Let this State of the Children Report remind us that our mission is far from over. We must continue to listen to our children, amplify their voices, and act with compassion and courage,” the governor stressed.