KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The ChildFund Philippines, Inc., together with its partner civil society organizations, local government units, and government agencies are gearing up for a child-labor-free Mindanao.
Recently, the ChildFund Philippines, in partnership with the Kaanib Foundation and HaUman Association Inc., launched a two-year program tagged "building capacities" of civil society organizations, local government units, and government agencies in Mindanao to address child labor through promotion of acceptable condition of work in crop ggriculture.
The program, funded by the European Union Commission, will be implemented in three pilot sites, namely Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Carmen, Davao del Norte; and Alamada, Cotabato.
Diosdado Wana, director of program and sponsorship of the ChildFund Philippines, said the program aims to strengthen the capacities of partner agencies in creating advocacies, policies, and programs towards the prevention, protection, and removal of children from hazardous and exploitative work.
He noted that it will focus on implementing sustainable community-based programs in creating awareness and promoting a better understanding of child labor. Also, an enactment of relevant government policies and establishment of efficient reporting, referral, and response mechanisms against child labor are expected to be implemented under the program.
“Various non-government organizations are trying to do their best in helping complement the efforts of the government to address the issue of child labor. ChildFund Philippines has been in the fight against child labor for the past 15 years,” Wana emphasized, adding that ChildFund Philippines remains committed to ending child labor.
Meanwhile, he said that despite the efforts of various agencies in ending child labor, still the challenge continues to exist, thus more work needs to be done.
“It is, therefore, crucial that we continue to work together, harmonize our efforts, and complement resources to achieve significant progress,” Wana said.
