Children from the different Child Labor Free Barangays in Davao
Region received early gifts for Christmas as the Department of Labor and
Employment XI marked the Children’s Month with the 1st Regional
Anti-Child Labor Summit and Children’s Festival dubbed as Komunidad at
PamahalaanMagkaisa, Pang-aabusosa Bata, Wakasan Na.
No
less than theDOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz graced the activity
during her visit in Davao Region last November 23, 2015 at the SMX Convention
Hall, SM Lanang Premiere, Lanang, Davao City.
In
her keynote address, Sec. Baldoz emphasized the importance of convergence of services
thru the HELP ME Convergence Program framework. “The elimination of child labor
is a private-public engagement. We are glad to report that the Philippines has
been regarded as one of the countries with significant advancement in
combatting child labor based on the Global Child Report released by the US
Department of Labor. The Department (DOLE) does not own solely the credit for
the commendation of the foreign community. We are thankful for the support of
the local government especially in the barangay and grassroots level. We
commend the efforts of our partner government agencies, people’s organizations,
non-government organizations, and parents for the cooperation you have shown in
helping us combat the ill-effects of child labor in our communities.
Human
resource is still the best asset of our country. Help us hone quality human
resource by providing the new generation of Filipinos with equal opportunity to
health, education, livelihood, and quality life. Let us prevent and protect our
children from being subjected to all forms hazardous labor.”
Forging
cooperation among regional partners, the Department of Labor and Employment
Regional Office XI heads the signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular on the
Implementation of the HELP ME Convergence Program to Address Child Labor in
Davao Region with the local HELP ME Convergence partners.
In
the event, Sec. Baldozalso awarded the Child Labor Free Barangay Certificate to
the following: Barangay Tanglaw, Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte; Barangay Callawa,
Davao City; and Barangay Tibanban, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. A total
of 1,789.945.00 livelihood grants were awarded to 398beneficiaries. The grant
assistance were given to parents of identified child laborers and children at
risk of being child laborers. The intervention shall enable the parents to be
economically empoweredso that their children won’t have to participate in
laboring for the family and focus on their education instead.
Certificates
of Child Labor Free Establishment were awarded to UM Multitest, Mindanao Times
Corporation, UM Broadcasting Network, Petron Davao Depot, Bachelor Express
Inc., Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s College, Offsourcing
Philippines, Inc., and Davao Wisdom Academy.
Makati
Development Corporation (MDC) is the summit’s generous Project Angel Tree
sponsor.
Secretary
Baldoz was accompanied by Director Ahmma Charisma LobrinSatumba and Maribeth A.
Casin of Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) who officially opened
the regional summit and gave the overview of DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and
Elimination Program respectively.
HELP
ME Convergence partners present during the activity were: Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD); Department of Health (DOH); National Council
for Indigenous People (NCIP); Philippine Information Agency (PIA); Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG); National
Economic
Development Agency (NEDA); Department of Justice (DOJ); Provincial Social
Welfare and Development Office-Davao del Norte; City Social Services and
Development Organization (CSSDO); and Kaugmaon Children’s Foundation.
Ending
the summit was the children’s festival facilitated by the Kaugmaon Children’s Foundation.LGU/DNFO