BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and their partners have reached out to parents and guardians of profiled child laborers in Baguio City and Benguet.
At least 54 parents or guardians were given livelihood assistance under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), while 25 received school supplies through the Project Angel Tree during the 2025 Child Labor Information Drive and Service Caravan in Barangay Lualhati, Baguio City.
“Isang istratehiya yan ng office para mabigyan ng mga pangangailangan ang mga bata lalong-lalo na sa kanilang pag-aaral,” said Leonardo Doguil, Regional Focal Person for Child Labor.
The DILP is one of the efforts of the government to eliminate child labor with the provision of sustainable livelihood for parents or guardians of child laborers so that their children will no longer be engaged in child labor. Among the livelihood projects are eatery, laundry business, retail, and gardening.
Project Angel Tree aims to assemble social services ranging from school supplies, food, and hygiene to help profiled child laborers to continue their studies and to support their physical, psychological, and emotional development.
“Nagsimula ang Project Angel Tree 2014, tuloy-tuloy naman na itong strategy natin. Medyo iba yung ginawa natin last year monitoring yung ginawa natin kaya di tayo nakapagbigay ng ganito pero sa ngayon gagawin natin,” Doguil explained.
The recent distribution of school supplies was done with the help of Junior Chamber International-Baguio Sunflower Chapter, benefactors from private sectors, and other stakeholders.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the assistance they received.
“Maysaak met nga benefisyaryo it DOLE ket salamat ta dakkel nga tulong daytoy nga ipapa-ay ti ahensya. Sapay kuma ta agtultuloy daytoy nga program iti gobyerno tapno ti kasta ket adu pay ti matulungan da nga kas kanyami, ” a parent of a former profiled child laborer expressed.
(I am a beneficiary of DOLE and I am thankful because this is a huge help. We hope that this program of the government continues so that more beneficiaries like us will be helped)
“Nagsimula yung livelihood na to kasi may pumunta na DOLE sa aming house and then kinausap yung anak namin kasi nakita nila na nagtitinda siya, kaya nakapasok kami sa DOLE (Livelihood Assistance Project) at nalaman namin na may ganito pala siya. Raw materials, at yung mga gagamitin namin (in business), yung mga kalan, freezer, at least nadagdagan kahit papano yung mga gamit namin, sa susunod mas marami na yung mga mailalagay namin” another beneficiary shared.
The Child Labor Information Drive and Service Caravan is scheduled every quarter with Baguio City chosen as the first destination in the Cordillera region. Other provinces to follow will be done simultaneously. [JDP/CVBT with PIA-SLU intern Jairus Gabriel A. Cardinoza]
