The University of the Philippines Open University Foundation, Inc. (UPOUFI), through the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), conducted a 6-day online pilot training for the Course on Child-Rights-Based Public Finance Management  (CRBPFM) from 29 July to 03 August 2025. The training aimed to evaluate the course module content and assess the effectiveness of open and distance e-learning methodologies in preparation for the course’s official launch and full implementation.

A closing ceremony was held on 05 August 2025 at Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City to mark the conclusion of the pilot run. The event gathered representatives from key partner organizations and institutions, including the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Open Heart Foundation, Social Watch Philippines, National Youth Commission, ABS-CBN Foundation, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines. This milestone marks a significant step toward mainstreaming child rights in public finance management through inclusive, accessible, and high-quality learning.

As part of the ceremony, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to 23 course completers who successfully accomplished all five CRBPFM modules. The awarding was facilitated by Ms. Lea Marasigan, Social Policy Specialist of UNICEF Philippines; Dr. Augusto Rodriguez, Social Policy Project Leader and UPOU-FMDS Senior Lecturer Regina Mendoza-Armiendo; and Mr. Elino L. Bardillon, Planning Officer V of the CWC. Their presence showed how important this initiative was and how much they appreciated the hard work and achievements of everyone who joined the course.

Dr. Rodriguez warmly welcomed all the participants, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the partner agencies for their support in championing children’s rights. He reminded everyone that children are not just beneficiaries of our programs, they are partners in governance. Giving them the space to speak and the power to influence does more than uplift their voices; it strengthens our institutions and deepens our democracy. He ended his speech with an impactful message: “Every peso we allocate, and every action we take, brings us closer to a future where no child is left behind.”

Ms. Marasigan and Mr. Bardillon closed the meeting by expressing their gratitude to all partners, including UPOU, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Local Council for the  Protection of Children (LCPC) Consortium, Public Finance for Children Committee, and Social Watch Philippines, for their insights and contributions to the development and pilot offering of the course. They emphasized the importance of creating a practical and accessible module that raises awareness across all sectors from communities to government agencies and the need to institutionalize it with the support of CWC, local government units, and national government agency partners to ensure long-term sustainability. It was highlighted that public finance is ultimately about delivering real results for every child and encouraged continued collaboration and promotion of the course within agencies. Lastly, they said that making local communities child-friendly requires teamwork because it truly takes a village to raise a child.

Aligned with the UPOU’s mission to democratize access to education and training, this initiative supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Written by: Eunice Laarnie Simon • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz

Sustainable Development Goals

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