BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development - Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) aims to introduce the Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Development Interventions (SHIELD) Project  against child labor in other local government units in the Cordillera.

 Project SHIELD is a model of intervention developed by DSWD Social Technology Bureau to combat child labor and to strengthen efforts at the local level. It aims to establish an operational local child labor local registration system, strengthen system and local mechanisms for convergence of services for child laborers and their families thru the establishment of a barangay-based help desk, and to increase awareness and capacities of child laborers, their families and duty-bearers.

 This   is in partnership with local government units, non-government organizations and other government agencies.

During an Inter-Agency Technical Working Group meeting on November 7, Klarisa Natavio of the DSWD-CAR reported that the municipality of Pudtol in Apayaois the pilot  area of the project in  the region with 93 beneficiaries.

She explained that based on the data of the Department of Labor and Employment, the top  three municipalities in Cordillera with high child labor cases are Buguias, Benguet; Bauko, Mountain Province,  and Pudtol, Apayao. Only  LGU Pudtol though   responded positively for the implementation  of the SHIELD program.

"Kung makikita natin na kaya na ni LGU Pudtol  na mag-shoulder ng fund sa pag-provide ng educational assistance sa mga bata, puwede po nating kuhanin 'yung fund na allotted sa Pudtol and ilipat sa ibang LGU as long as makita po natin na kaya po nila or puwede pong hati, 50 sa Pudtol at puwedeng maghanap ng 50 (beneficiaries) sa ibang LGUs," Natavio explained.

"Puwede pong i-introduce natin sa mga LGUs dito sa CAR at titingnan natin kung kaya ba nilang sila mismo ang mag-fund," she added.

 
Apart from other interventions, the DSWD will provide an augmentation of P500.00 grant per month for a year for the beneficiaries. The DSWD aims to introduce the program to the LGUs for them to adopt and continue.

 
Pursuant to the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, the SHIELD Project was developed to contribute to the removal of one million children from child labor by 2025, as envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals and Philippine Program against Child Labor.(JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)