Project Angel Tree touches lives of Negrense child laborers

With a commitment to end and eliminate child labor, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) once more touched the lives of 100 identified child laborers and their parents/guardians from Silay City and Talisay City, Negros Occidental by providing goods and services through Project Angel Tree.

The activities included a service caravan that consists of a free grooming service courtesy of Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office and a free medical consultation offered by the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office.

The parents and guardians also took part in the learning sessions on Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood conducted by the Negros Occidental Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office-Population and Development Division, and Violence Against Women and Children and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination by the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office.

“Ending child labor is everybody’s concern and it needs our all-out effort to take these children out of hazardous works and lead them to a bright future,” said DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr. who champions child rights and welfare.

He also underscored the skills enhancement and livelihood opportunities offered to parents and guardians of child laborers to uplift their economic conditions.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) presented programs for the skills enhancement of the child laborers and their parents/guardians during the activity.

The Negros Occidental Public Employment Services Office, together with the Provincial Livelihood and Development Center, also conducted a skills demonstration on meat processing, specifically on siomai, tocino, and chorizo making.

Other than the services and advocacy caravan, the beneficiaries also received rice, food packs, school supplies with bag, hygiene kits, PPEs, mingo meals and vitamins through the generosity of the project’s angels – the Talisay City and Silay City governments, Rep. Kiko Benitez, Gov. Eugenio Lacson, Provincial Council for the Protection of Children-Negros Occidental, Hawaiian Philippine Company, First Farmers Holding Corporation, Negros Volunteers for Change, Dynamic Builders and Construction Co., Marex Pharmacy, Vallacar Transit Inc., Family Welfare Association of Negros Occidental, and the Safety Organization of Negros Occidental.

In Talisay City, STI-West Negros University provided some entertainment and games to the delight and excitement of the children as they went home with the prizes they won.