TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) — In support of its advocacy to end child labor in the region, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 2 intensified its anti-child labor campaign by assisting their families.
The department, in collaboration with various government agencies, provided livelihood and free services to families of child laborers in an information and service caravan in Solana, Cagayan.
Regional Director Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr. emphasized the importance of collective efforts to eliminate child labor.
“Children should not be working in the fields because it affects their growth. We are here to offer you livelihood assistance so that poverty will no longer force your children to work. We hope that instead of working, they can study and build a better future,” said Atal.
During the event, 75 child laborers received bags and food packs, while their parents or guardians were provided with livelihood assistance worth P20,000 per package, which included carpentry materials, street food vending kits, and rice vending supplies, totaling P1.5 million in assistance.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, as co-chairperson of the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL), conducted validation and assessments for child laborers profiled by DOLE to determine their eligibility for educational assistance.
Other services included medical and dental care from the Cagayan Valley Medical Center, clearance processing by the National Bureau of Investigation, document updates and employer registration assistance from the Social Security System, membership registration and loan application support from Pag-IBIG, and health coverage from PhilHealth’s Konsulta program, while the Philippine National Police offered free haircuts.
One of the program beneficiaries, Cesario de Guzman Jr., expressed his gratitude for the help provided and hoped to grow his livelihood to support his family.
“This assistance is a big help, especially for someone like me who finds it difficult to start a business. I hope to grow this opportunity so we can improve our lives and give our children a better future,” said de Guzman.
On the other hand, barangay officials of Solana town also signed a pledge to work towards the prevention and elimination of child labor in their municipality. (MJFJ/PIA Region 2)
