BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of Labor and Employment – Cordillera (DOLE – CAR) partnered with  SM City Baguio for the  observance of World Day Against Child Labor  on  June 12.  

With the theme, “Makibahagi,  Makialam,  Makiisa para sa Batang Malaya," a  program was  held at the  Level 2 of SM City Baguio.

It was   highlighted by an advocacy campaign and color painting, crayon drawing and story - telling with children  and their parents.

In line with the observance, DOLE – CAR  also recently initiated and signed a memorandum of understanding  with several public and private offices/organizations for a partnership  on  child labor prevention and elimination advocacy campaigns and activities.

Among those that partnered with DOLE – CAR through an MOU are the Junior  Chamber of Commerce International Baguio Sunflower, Baguio Lodge No. 67 of the Free and Accepted Masons, and Rotary Club of Baguio Summer Capital, Inc.

The DOLE – CAR is also bringing in various public and private partners to provide livelihood assistance to parents of profiled child laborer in Cordillera under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), as well as for the provision of school supplies and other needs of the identified families through the DOLE Project Angel Tree.

Based on the data of DOLE – CAR, there are 2,799 profiled child laborers in the  Cordillera as of November 2022. Of the profiled child laborers, 431 are in Abra, 473 in Apayao, 611 in Benguet, 454 in Ifugao, 433 in Kalinga and 397 in Mountain Province.

DOLE – CAR Assistant Regional Director Emerito Narag, in a recent media forum here, stressed  the importance of a whole – of – government and whole – of – society approach to curb the existing problem on child labor.

Narag affirmed  the increasing cases based on their profiling, thus he calls for strengthened advocacy campaign especially among parents.

 “We need to prevent these children to work on hazardous situation. We need to promote, especially to parents that instead of working, children must be at school and playing with other children,” Narag stressed. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)