THE city government of Dagupan will focus on projects geared to make the city more child-friendly next year.

This was disclosed by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. who said he and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez as well as the other city officials will give premium to projects that are basically addressed to the welfare of children.

Talking to newsmen on Wednesday after leading a civic parade that formed part of the Dagupan City Fiesta in honor of St. John the Evangelist, Fernandez said he and the other city officials will first look into the possible strengthening of the day care centers.

The city, including some big business establishments and civic organizations, are maintaining day care centers in many barangays here that are serving pre-schoolers while their mothers are working somewhere else.

Aside from this, Fernandez said the city government also needs to build parks, especially in the barangays, that will cater most of all to children.

The mayor added that the city government will also seek to provide a half-way house for juvenile offenders that will provide them counseling.

He said the city will touch-base with non-government organizations that are concerned in the counseling and development of formative growth character of children, and also seek to strengthen the family base in various communities.

At the same time, Fernandez indicated that the city will revive the city’s Helping Hand Foundation which had before provided skills training to youth and unemployed adults so that they can be trained and be more competitive when seeking jobs somewhere else.