VIGAN CITY, June 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment Ilocos Sur Field Office (DOLE-ISFO) on Sunday gathered some 50 siblings of child laborers in Candon City for the “Project Angel Tree”.

The beneficiaries of the said project are children in elementary level from grades one to six.

Through this project, each of them received learning supplies including three notebooks, a box of pencils with eraser, box of crayons, sketch pad, scissors, sharpener and a backpack.

DOLE-ISFO also distributed meal packs and hygiene kits containing a pouch, hand towel, bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol, face masks and a t-shirt.

The Project Angel Tree is an initiative of the DOLE under the agency’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) that aims to curb child labor through an array of social services made available to child laborers as well as their families.

It includes food, clothing, educational assistance or school supplies, and even work and training opportunities to child laborers.

A mother of two beneficiaries Ezperanza Regina Lalin from San Antonio, Candon City said they are grateful to receive the kits.

“Agyamanak nga adda intedda, isu pay met a makatulong ken isu man nga gatangenmi kuman no awan daytoy. Adda nayun ti usarenda nga agbasan, agyamankami ti DOLE (We are thankful fo this, we do not need to buy anymore so this [project] is really helpful to us. We thank the DOLE for these supplies that will support their studies,” said Lalin.

The distribution of kits were conducted during the DOLE’s 2022 ‘Kalayaan’ Mega Job Fair held at the Candon Civic Center to mark the celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence Day. (JCR/JPD/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)