Child laborers’ parents, guardians avail P1.7-M DOLE livelihood support

Parents and guardians of identified child laborers in three barangays in Negros Occidental received Php1,798,385 in livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment Regional-Office No. 6 through the Negros Occidental Field Office (NOFO).

The livelihood assistance is intended for the enhancement of commodity or “sari-sari” stores serving 117 families in Barangays Mandalagan and Handumanan in Bacolod City, and 35 families in Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City.

The fund was released through the Christian Advocates for Justice and Development in Negros Occidental (CAJDEN), Inc., a non-governmental organization that advocates campaign against child labor.

“One of the missions of our organization, along with the provision of educational assistance to children and promotion of the rights of the children, is providing livelihood projects to parents of child laborers in partnership with DOLE,’ said CAJDEN Executive Director Ma. Lina M. Ganaba.

DOLE-RO6 Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao stressed that the project further aims to end the engagement of minor children in hazardous work by improving the source of income of their parents and guardians.

The assistance will be used to purchase products for sari-sari stores, such as coffee and chocolate powder drink, packed biscuits and noodles, canned sardines, rice, cooking oil, and eggs.  CAJDEN will also provide the beneficiaries with trainings on entrepreneurship, accounting, financial management and control, credit management and self-awareness.

“This is one of the successful results of our referrals of profiled child laborers in 2019. Their parents are our target-beneficiaries under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP),” said Mary Agnes N. Capigon, DOLE-RO6 NOFO Head.

Capigon also recognized the consistent efforts exerted by CAJDEN in order to realize the project. “CADJEN is one of our active partners in our campaign for the prevention and elimination of child labor particularly in Negros Occidental for years now and the Office is grateful for that.”