Western Visayas council boosts fight against child labor

The Regional Council Against Child Labor reaffirmed its commitment to eliminate child labor in Western Visayas during its second-semester meeting at the Iloilo Grand Hotel in Iloilo City on July 15, 2026.

The meeting supported Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino’s advocacy for collective action to protect children and empower their families.

Member agencies reviewed ongoing programs, strengthened interagency coordination and adopted strategies to protect children from the worst forms of child labor.

Atty. Jorge S. Ferraris II, officer in charge of the Technical Support Services Division, presided over the meeting on behalf of Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VI Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr.

Rodriguez also serves as chairperson of the Regional Council Against Child Labor.

The council identified key issues, operational challenges and possible courses of action to strengthen the regional campaign against child labor.

Members reviewed the accomplishments recorded during the first semester of 2026 under the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program.

The council also assessed the implementation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and Other Developmental Interventions, or SHIELD, Program.

The review highlighted continuing interventions and joint initiatives aimed at preventing and eliminating child labor across Western Visayas.

The council approved Resolution No. 01, Series of 2026, to expand its membership by including additional government agencies and stakeholders.

The expansion complies with Executive Order No. 92 and is intended to promote broader collaboration in addressing child labor concerns.

Members also discussed Proposed Resolution No. 02, which seeks to establish the Regional Sagip Batang Manggagawa–Quick Action Team for Region VI.

Once institutionalized, the team will provide a harmonized interagency mechanism for preventing child labor and rescuing affected children.

The proposed team will also coordinate protection, referral, rehabilitation and monitoring services for child laborers and children at risk of entering child labor.

During the meeting, participating agencies renewed their commitments to assist child laborers, at-risk children and their families.

The Philippine Statistics Authority Region VI committed to provide birth and marriage certificates and assist beneficiaries with National ID registration.

The Department of Trade and Industry Region VI pledged to provide skills development and entrepreneurship training for parents to improve household livelihood opportunities.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology Region VI committed to conduct digital literacy training for children and their parents.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region VI pledged continued support for profiling, monitoring and coordinating local government initiatives against child labor.

The council also agreed to conduct a strategic planning workshop to identify gaps in program implementation.

The workshop will seek to strengthen interagency coordination and validate existing child labor interventions.

Council members will also formulate strategic actions to improve child labor prevention and elimination efforts throughout Western Visayas.