DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has trained some 200 profiled child laborers in Bais City to become more knowledgeable of their rights and how to protect themselves during an orientation activity in observance of World Day Against Child Labor (WDCAL).

Children aged 15 to 17 learned about their rights and the ways by which they could protect themselves against bullying, cybercrime, and the various forms of scams that have proliferated the internet.

The activity was led by DOLE with the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Bais City which provided informative sessions to the children.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia Estillore said educating the children and making them more aware of realities around them is essential so that the children will learn how to be cautious especially in using internet.

“They are vulnerable and very susceptible to abuse. And reintroducing them to their various rights as well as providing them an avenue to understand about bullying, cybercrime and the different types of scams lurking around them would be a bold step in making them free from being victimized by unscrupulous individuals or groups,” said Estillore.

Parents of the children were also monitored and guided in the identification of their respective livelihood projects.

According to Officer in Charge Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco of DOLE Negros Oriental, the Voice of the Free Philippines and the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided training assessment lectures to parents of profiled child laborers enabling them to enhance their skills and livelihood opportunities.

Under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), an important component is the provision of livelihood assistance to the parents and/or guardians of child laborers dubbed as the DOLE Kabuhayan Para Sa Magulang ng Batang Manggagawa (KASAMA).

DILEEP continues to serve as a preventive measure against child labor in the region through the provision of livelihood opportunities to the parents and/or guardians of profiled child labors.

The program aims to prevent and eliminate the occurrence of child labor incidences in the region by increasing the financial capacities of families, which will ensure that the children will not have to work anymore and that they will be able to go to school.

Sealing the efforts exerted under the DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP), Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel  Goñi and the rest of the stakeholders involved did the symbolic commitment signing, with each one vowing to make the municipality a child labor-free community.

“We are very happy learning that Mayor Goñi announced that they have allocated educational assistance worth P6,000 for each profiled family in the city. He also pledged to gather all government agencies to collaborate in making Bais a child labor-free city in Negros Oriental,” Estillore said.

During the celebration, free haircut services were provided by TESDA while feeding and distribution of goodies to the children and parlor games were done by the PNP-Bais through its Women and Children Protection Desk, among others. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from DOLE)