ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has initiated a “run-for-a-cause” event, which aims to benefit the child laborers in the city and province of Iloilo.
DOLE-Iloilo Officer-In-Charge Amalia Judicpa, in an interview, said that the funds generated in the fun run activity during the celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12 would be used for the agency’s Project Angel Tree that would provide different services to identified child laborers.
“We are going to identify two barangays each in the city and province with high incidents of child labor. We will concentrate our project there, wherein the funds will be used to buy hygiene and school kits to be given to the identified child laborers in the chosen community,” Judicpa said, citing that the project would be held in November as part of the National Children’s Month.
She also thanked the sponsors who gave additional funding during the event that was participated by around 200 Ilonggo advocates, noting the importance of giving these children and their parents support as poverty remains one of the reasons why there are kids who are forced to work and sacrificed their studies.
Raising the awareness of the parents and giving them livelihood assistance are also important, according to Judicpa, as it would help prevent more cases of child laborers.
“It is important that the parents are given alternative sources of livelihood to at least help augment their income for them to support their children,” she said, noting that the DOLE-Iloilo also released P3 million worth of livelihood assistance under its Integrated Livelihood Program to LGU Batad, which is identified to have high incidents of child laborers.
“We appeal to the parents to really support and help their children. Let’s not halt their studies as they would soon have more opportunities after they graduate. If there’s a need to sacrifice more, please sacrifice. Let’s not engage our children to work that could harm their growth physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Judicpa added.
The three-kilometer ‘run-for-a-cause’ event that started at Iloilo Freedom Grandstand was also in partnership with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Iloilo City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 and the Bidlisiw Foundation Inc.- Philippines. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)
