SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Globe Telecom, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), and the Pampanga Provincial Government will formally launch Friday the local network interconnection at the Capitol.

Governor Lilia G. Pineda will lead the ceremonial launching of the successful completion of Pampanga’s local network interconnection between Globe Telecom and PLDT in the province.

The significant event is an important milestone for NTC, Globe Telecom, PLDT, and the Pampanga Provincial Government, Pineda said.

The governor lauded the business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan for his support for the project which will benefit millions in Pampanga.

The provincial governor on Wednesday also pledged to construct a P3-million social welfare home intended for abused children in Magalang town.

This, said Pineda, is her response to the alarming incidence of child abuse cases in the province.

She made this announcement during the Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Network (CAPIN) orientation at the Pampanga Provincial Police Office sponsored by the Pampanga Social Welfare and Development Office and the Consuelo Foundation.

She said the province is all-out in supporting initiatives against child abuse and welcomes the support of Consuelo Foundation in such initiatives.

Pineda said that she has instructed members of the social welfare sector here to be vigilant in ensuring children’s rights are protected in the barangay.

“The creation of the welfare home will be an addition to the initiatives being undertaken by the provincial government. The family also should do its part in preventing child abuse as most cases usually start from the family with cases perpetrated by relatives and even parents of the child,” she said.

The governor welcomes the partnership with Consuelo Foundation in giving seminars and skills workshops in handling child abuse cases with government agencies under the Capitol.

The Consuelo Foundation was on October 1987 with the establishment of Child and Family Service Philippines Inc.

This foundation was created by Patti Lyons, then with Child and Family Service Hawai‘i, and Danny Urquico, then a volunteer working with at-risk youth in the Philippines.

CFSPI struggled with funding until Lyons met Consuelo Zobel Alger, a wealthy Filipina who had retired in Hawaii and inspired by the plight of Baguio street children, the needs for a shelter, which Consuelo became CFSPI's one of the beneficiaries.

Consuelo Foundation is one of the forerunners of CAPIN which is being implemented in the province. The group is also a staunch advocate of the creation of a Child Welfare Code for Pampanga.