The National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF), through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), enjoins all families from all sectors nationwide to observe the International Day of Families (IDF) on May 15, 2020.

The International Day of Families is an annual observance every 15th of May as proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) on September 20, 1993 through a resolution of the UN General Assembly. According to the UN, the day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

The theme of the International celebration this year is “Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing + 25” to highlight the 25th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action at the time of according to the UN, one of the most challenging global health and social crisis. For the UN, the COVID-19 pandemic brings into sharp focus the importance of investing in social policies protecting the most vulnerable individuals and families as well as provides a real opportunity to rethink and transform the way economies and societies function to foster greater equality for all.

For this year’s national observance, the NCFF adopted the theme, “Mapagkalingang Pagtugon at Proteksyon sa Bawat Pamilyang Pilipino Mula sa Suliraning Pang ekonomiya at Karahasan sa Gitna ng Pandemyang COVID-19,” to emphasize the importance of providing Filipino families with compassionate response on economic shocks and protection from violence in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let us celebrate how the government has invested in social protection especially for the vulnerable families through the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for low-income families who have been assessed to be most affected by the imposition of community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, given their existing life situations or circumstances.

Let us also celebrate how, at this time of the pandemic, families and family connections have played an important role in the extension of material, financial, and emotional support as sufferings of families escalate. Let us also celebrate how help for vulnerable families have poured in from another family.

This International Day of Families, let us acknowledge our loved ones by doing things together, if possible, sharing a warm meal or watching a good movie, and if not by still being together, connecting with our families near and far, through technology. Let us also continue to care for vulnerable families by offering support during this difficult time.

The Philippines is known for its strong family ties. DSWD and NCFF are enjoining all families nationwide to use this day as a chance to reflect on the importance of their families in their lives, and on how they can come out of this crisis as a stronger and more intact unit. ###