The National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) calls on all Filipino families to spend bonding moments from September 24 to 30 as it leads the nation in the celebration of the 24th National Family Week Celebration with a kick-off program at Pasig City this Saturday.

The event is a yearly celebration in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 60 signed on September 28, 1992 and Executive Order No. 241 dated June 9, 1995.

This was further amended by Executive Order No. 238 on September 22, 2003 which expanded the function and re-organized the National Steering Committee of the Family week into a national committee, the NCFF, to oversee the celebration and respond to the concerns of the family sector.

The theme of the celebration is “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas”, which gives recognition to the contribution of a resilient Filipino family in achieving a better future.

For this year, Pasig City is the host local government unit (LGU) for the kick off activity which will jumpstart the celebration nationwide.

To be held at the Youth Development Center (YDC) in Maybunga, Pasig, the kick off program will be headed by DSWD, Pasig City LGU as well as the different government and non-government agency-member organizations of NCFF.

More than 300 family advocates are expected to participate in the kick-off program which has the main objective of raising public awareness on the importance of advocating for strong Filipino families.

As part of the weeklong celebration, a Family Conference will be held on September 29  to discuss important family related topics such as safety and security of the family in challenging times, and the emerging family issues such as trafficking and cyber pornography, among others.

The NCFF also supports the observance of the “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day” every 4^th Monday of September as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 326 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino in January 2012.

DSWD enjoins all the Filipino public to exert effort in spending time with their families through sharing meals together.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said, “It is important that we work towards building strong families so that child abuses can be prevented, the elderly will be cared for, and the women will not  be violated.  News nowadays are full of accounts of various abuses affecting the family, in general.  That is why DSWD is  strengthening the different social protection programs which would address the needs of the poor, disadvantaged, marginalized and vulnerable sectors in society.  Through our programs and services and genuine care, we want to help the needy families be eventually able to help themselves.” ###