BUTUAN CITY -- In time with the recently held gift-giving activity in the municipality of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through the sectoral unit and the LGU-Hinatuan, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and launched the Strategic Help Desks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) Against Child Labor.

The MOA signing ceremony was executed by Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay and DSWD Field Office Caraga sectoral unit head Elsa Jamora.  

In his speech, Mayor Garay expressed gratitude to the national government agencies (NGAs) present and highlighted the unending delivery of services of DSWD - Caraga to the municipality especially after a series of natural disaster occurrences in Hinatuan.

“Whether it be an earthquake or typhoon, we will not stop providing services, and now, we will continue to stop child labor in Hinatuan,” said Garay.

On the other hand, Jamora also took the opportunity to further explain the purpose of SHIELD to the participating parents of former child laborers.

"Let's make it clear because maybe the children listening here will say that 'Mom you're not allowed to make me work or you'll go to jail' that's not what this means. And maybe when you go back to your houses you'll ask why is the government meddling with your parenting?" quipped Jamora.

Jamora further explained that anti-child labor laws exist to ensure that children are not robbed of their rights to go to school and play—the very core of being a kid. 

"What we mean is that we have all sworn together with the government that we will give the children a better life than what we had and we could not achieve it if we do not give them their rights and that includes their right to education. That's one of the things we are protecting—there's no problem if we ask them to help us work but we should make sure that their time for education and their right to play—their right to experience childhood are not affected," added Jamora. 

The mission of SHIELD Against Child Labor focuses on strengthening efforts at the local level including establishment of help desks and a local registry on child labor in which referral mechanisms and convergence of support services are embedded. 

In addition, advocacy and capacity building to increase awareness and capacities of the clientele group and the duty-bearers to enable them to provide appropriate and immediate interventions to child laborers and their families. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)