Motorized bancas to keep child laborers’ future afloat

Waking up at 3 a.m. to go out to sea to fish or flex muscles in construction sites are not the usual routine of a child.

But poverty forced them to engage in laborious jobs which at times poses danger to their lives.

This was the life of the 30 identified child laborers at Brgy. Punta Cogon, Roxaz, City. They engaged in strenuous works for a small earnings that augment their parent’s meager income. Their education too was compromised.

With the children’s future at stake, the local government unit of Brgy. Punta Cogon under the leadership of Punong Brgy. Olivia Escolin requested for assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment Regional (DOLE) Office No. 6 through its Capiz Field Office.

As a prime mover of children’s rights and protection against child labor, DOLE provided livelihood assistance suited to the needs and skills of the beneficiaries.

Since Punta Cogon is a coastal barangay, the Regional Office gave beneficiaries bancas and fishing gears.

On Oct 5, 2021, DOLE-6 OIC-Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. turned over to Brgy. Punta Cogon Php727,300 worth of livelihood assistance to 19 motorized bancas, 60 sacks of rice (10 sacks each for rice retailing project of six beneficiaries), grocery packages for three sari-sari store projects, and bundles of fishing nets and accessories for two beneficiaries.

Rodriguez is confident that the projects will become sustainable and will relieve the families from financial woes.

“By providing livelihood we hope to uplift their economic conditions that will enable them to send their children back to school instead of allowing them to work,” he said.

Mr. Patlemer Besa, Brgy Punta Cogon Treasurer is hopeful that the DOLE’s assistance could change the lives of the beneficiaries.

He revealed that due to poverty all identified child laborers are not attending school.

“Sila ang poorest diri sa amon barangay,” Besa said, “ang mga bata indi makaeskwela kay wala-wala gid. Gabulig sila panglabada, pangisda sa lawod, ang iban cargador o construction workers. (They are the poorest in our barangay. The children could not afford to go to school due to poverty. They helped their parents in doing laundry and in fishing at sea, others engaged in porterage service or construction works).”

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to DOLE for the livelihood assistance that is expected to provide a brighter future for their children.