CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — Nineteen local government units in Pampanga have been recognized for excellence in protecting the province's children, earning the IDEAL Level of Functionality for their Local Councils for the Protection of Children. The awards were presented on November 9, 2026, during the Provincial Children's Month Celebration at the Capitol Grounds, led by the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government. And three municipalities didn't just meet the standard—they set it.
The Perfect Scorers and the Full List of Awardees
Three LGUs achieved a flawless 100% rating: Floridablanca, Lubao, and San Simon, with their perfect scores reflecting a complete and sustained commitment to every pillar of child protection, from organizational structure to service delivery . The other recognized LGUs demonstrated strong performance across the 80%–100% range required for IDEAL status, including Santo Tomas at 98.86%, Mabalacat City at 96.46%, Porac at 95.31%, Bacolor and Guagua both at 95.20%, Candaba at 94.80%, Mexico at 92.91%, Sasmuan at 92.40%, Apalit and Arayat both at 91.20%, Minalin at 89.46%, City of San Fernando at 88.91%, Magalang at 88.31%, Santa Rita at 87.71%, San Luis at 84.91%, and Santa Ana at 82.51%.
What the IDEAL Rating Means and the Leadership Behind the Recognition
The IDEAL Level of Functionality is the highest assessment an LCPC can achieve, requiring a score between 80% and 100% across four core criteria: Organizational Sustainability at 20%, Policies and Plans for Children at 30%, Budget Allocation and Utilization at 20%, and Service Delivery Monitoring and Management for Children at 30% . It's not just a paperwork exercise—it reflects whether a local government has the structure, the plans, the funding, and the follow-through to genuinely protect and nurture its children. The awarding was led by Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon, chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender and Development, and DILG Provincial Director Myra Soriano, on behalf of Governor Lilia "Nanay" Pineda and Vice Governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda, together with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan . The celebration also featured the State of the Children Address, which highlighted the provincial government's ongoing investments in children's welfare, including PHP 1.91 million in medical assistance for 88 children undergoing chemotherapy and 23 undergoing liver transplantation, fortified milk distribution for 140 children with pulmonary tuberculosis, dental health services for schoolchildren, 30,081 learners who completed or advanced under the Early Childhood Care and Development Program, and special activities for children with disabilities. To the 19 LGUs recognized: your commitment to children is not just a score on a rubric—it's a promise to the next generation.
