Juju
M. Empuerto
CEBU CITY,
June 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment Regional
Office (DOLE-7) has declared six child labor-free barangays in Negros
Oriental.
According to DOLE-7 OIC Regional Director Exequiel
Sarcauga, the awarding of Child Labor-Free Barangay certificates
highlighted the celebration of the 13th World Day against Child Labor in
Dumaguete City with the theme, “Edukasyon at PagsasanayTungo sa Marangal na
Buhay.”
According to DOLE-7 Labor Communication Officer Luchel Taniza, the
six new CL-free barangays in Negros Oriental are Barangay Poblacion in Santa
Catalina; Taboan in Bayawan City; Napakaw in Siaton; Pal-ew in Tanjay City;
Abis in Mabinay; and Alanginlanan in Manjuyod. I
Barangays Canggohob and Manlingay in Mabinay were also declared as
child labor-free in 2014, Taniza added.
Director Sarcauga espoused before a crowd of Negrenses the
advocacy against child labor which has been DOLE’s consistent campaign.
“Child labor is a world problem. We at DOLE have been
consistently carrying out several programs to address this global dilemna,”
said Sarcauga.
According to the labor and employment official, the 2011 National
Statistics Office (NSO) survey revealed that some 3.3 million children in the
country are engaged in child labor.
In Region 7 alone, he said, around 219,000 have been identified as
child laborers.
The worst forms of child labor include slavery, trafficking,
recruitment for armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, and other unlawful
activities, he added.
“We, in the government, envision our children to aspire a better
life through good education,” Sarcauga said in support to the celebration’s
international theme, “No to Child Labor, Yes to Quality Education.”
Under the Batang Malaya campaign in line with the Philippine
Program Against Child Labor and the country’s vision for a child labor-free
Philippines, the DOLE is persistent in its pledge that every barangay in the
country with high prevalence of child labor turn out becomes child labor-free.
The government’s conscious effort in protecting the rights of the
children gave birth to RA 9231, otherwise known as Special Protection
of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, that
gives special protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation, discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development including child labor and its worst forms.
Sarcauga said that at the barangay level, the Barangay Council for
the Protection of Children (BCPC) has been established to uphold the wellbeing
of the children and save them from harm.
Spearheaded by DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office (NOFO), the World
Day Against Child Labor Celebration in Region 7 was successfully put in place
through the concerted efforts of its social partners and stakeholders which
included the following, namely: Childfund Philippines; World Vision; Visayan
Forum; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Samahan at
Ugnayan ng Manggagawang Pantahanan, Inc. (SUMAPI); Philippine Information
Agency (PIA); Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)-Negros
Oriental; City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO)-Dumaguete; Public
Employment and Service Office (PESO)-Dumaguete; DepEd; Foundation University;
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Cuttin’ Loose; Dumaguete
Christian Technical Center; and the LGUs of Bayawan City, Santa Catalina,
Siaton, Zamboangita, Tanjay, Mabinay, Manjuyod and Dumaguete City.
Other activities parallel to the celebration were skills
training, team building, university course exposure of high
school participants at Foundation University, project angel
tree, giving of free haircuts, and Eco-kalan cooking demonstrations,
among others.
DOLE-NOFO oriented those in attendance on the Rights of the
Filipino child putting emphasis on the DOLE’s programs and services which aim
to uphold the welfare of the children.
Stakeholders were also exposed to a short financial literacy
seminar especially on creating, managing, and growing money, said NOFO
Officer-in-Charge Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/ with DOLE-7
reports)