BANGUED, Abra (PIA) — A total of 50 parents and guardians of minors who were profiled as child laborers in this province benefit from at least P1.5 million worth of livelihood projects under the Integrated Livelihood Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Antonio Pinera, one of the grantees of the sari-sari store package, is thankful for the livelihood assistance he recently received from the government.
“Agyaman kami ta naikan kami ti gundaway nga matulungan gapu iti daytoy nga sari-sari store. Ada narugian mi nga bassit sunga manayunan ta bassit ngarud ti puunan [We are thankful that we are given this opportunity to grow our sari-sari store business. We already have a small store but we can grow this through the assistance],” said the 82 year-old recipient who is taking care of his grandchildren.
Antonio Pinera from Luba, Abra receives his sari-sari store livelihood package from the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera represented by Assistant Regional Director Emerito Narag. (Photo by: PIA-Abra)
Pineda is among the 18 grantees from the municipality of Luba, a 5th class municipality located at least three hours away from the capital town.
DOLE-CAR Assistant Regional Director Emerito Narag said the awarding of livelihood starter packages is one of the steps of the government to provide families and child laborers better sources of income.
“Alwadan yo ti panangmanehar kadagita. Inted ti DOLE dayta tapno makatulong kanyayo, to augment your family income [Take care of these assistance given to you. DOLE gave this to help you augment your family income],” he explained.
A beneficiary chooses a piglet for her hog raising project under the Integrated livelihood Program of the Department of Labor and Employment. The awarding of livelihood kits aims to help provide better source of income for families of profiled child laborers in the province of Abra. (Photo by: PIA-Abra)
During the program, DOLE-Abra Livelihood Coordinator Grace Bandayrel also challenged the beneficiaries to nurture their businesses so that they can avail of an enhancement program to further improve their livelihood.
“Tulongan tayo met ti bagi tayo, adda kami latta for support. Kung maganda yung patakbo ninyo san a-receive ninyo, mabalin nga the same project metlang ti i-enhance tayo [You also help yourself. We are here for support. If you run your livelihood project well, then we can help you enhance this same livelihood],” she said.
Bandayrel also shared that their office can help refer parents and guardians of child laborers to other programs of partner agencies like TESDA.
The distribution of livelihood assistance to parents and guardians of child laborers is one of the initiatives of the government to end child labor in the country. In 2021, the Cordillera recorded at least 18,000 cases of child labor.
This program against child labor is also in support to the National Children’s Month this November that aims to promote the rights and welfare of every Filipino child.(JJPM-PIA CAR, Abra)
