DOLE program saves nearly 30,000 child laborers

CAGAYAN DE ORO - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said its Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) has removed a total of 29,697 child laborers in Region 10 from 2018–2022.

With the strong advocacy for upholding children’s rights and strengthening their protection from all forms of abuse, the DOLE, in partnership with World Vision International - an ecumenical Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization - continuously increases awareness of their CLPEP.

“Sa CLPEP, adunay mga tawo na gina sweldohan ginatawag na mga community facilitators,” said Glenford Labial, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE.

He said these community facilitators work to end or stop child labor through strategic directions like knowledge management or information caravans and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Program (DILEP), which encourages businesses to act in a socially responsible way.

Labial shared that Cagayan de Oro has the highest number of child laborers in the country. Following this, he mentioned the current initiatives and interventions of DOLE in partnership with the local government, World Vision International, Project ACE, and the City Council for the Protection of Children.

He added that DOLE has undertaken a lot of activities to boost the campaign against child labor to include coordination meetings with the different line agencies, TV and radio guesting, orientations and seminars, art exhibits, and photo galleries.

They also have the DOLEkula, which shows one-minute films about child labor and is recognized by the International Labor Organization for the initiative.

Chief Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE here, Emmanuel Toledo, said that new ordinances against child labor are in the works, along with their proposal for 100 starter kits or cash aid of P30,000 to the parents of child laborers.

“In 2022, the total number of profiled child laborers in Cagayan de Oro is 3,295 of which 100% are being referred to the different agencies and 3.2% was assisted by DOLE through the DILEP but naa pa'y additional ani, we are processing an additional 100 starter kits for the 100 parents of child laborers for this year. Naa na sa region, gisubmit na namo ang mga proposals so hopefully by March, maka-turnover mi og additional starter kits or P30,000 to the parents of the child laborer,” he said. (Theresa Arlene A. Gambe)