CORDON, Isabela (PIA) - - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently awarded livelihood packages amounting to P1.3 million to some 100 parents of child laborers and marginalized workers in this town as part of the 125th Independence Day celebration.

In the press release posted by Danstan Bautista of DOLE Isabela, he said that three associations benefited from the distribution of livelihood kits for various livelihood opportunities namely: Cordon Women’s Association - livelihood kit for tilapia fish production; Villa Meimban Farmers Association - mini groceries; and Pag-asa ng Sitio Bimmangon Association - feeds vending and and a mini grocery kit.

In her message, Mayor Lynn Zuniega stressed that the livelihood assistance to parents of child laborers and marginalized workers is a positive start towards enhancing their economic conditions and empowering them to obtain sustainable livelihood.

The mayor also said that the investment in livelihood shows a dedication to supporting social and economic advancement for vulnerable individuals, a step in the right direction towards building an inclusive society.

“Parents of child laborers and marginalized workers can better care for their families and rely less on child labor or hazardous employment through these resources which they need to make a living.

For her part, Evelyn Yango, chief of the DOLE-Isabela Field Office said that during the course of profiling, some parents said that they can’t send their children to school because there are no available jobs or other means of generating income and they are unaware of the law protecting children from child labor.

Yango further said they have been conducting orientation inform the local government units (LGUs) about the DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) as well as coordinating and working with them and partner agencies to provide essential intervention to child laborers or children-at-risk of child labor and their families.

Among the interventions provided to the said vulnerable groups include job referral and placement, livelihood, advocacy and strengthening of existing mechanisms in handling programs and services for children at risk.

“The fight to promote children’s rights and to combat child labor is a collective effort among the government agencies, academe, business sector, nongovernment organizations,” Yango said as she expressed hope that through the programs and intervention, children can already go to school. (TCB/PIA Quirino)