CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- In its continuous commitment to eliminate child labor in northern Mindanao, the World Vision Development Foundation’s Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE) together with the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL)-10 conducted strategic planning in line with the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) 2023-2028 on January 25–26, in Mandaue City, Cebu. 

“We are grateful to the members of the RCACL for their commitment to eliminating the worst forms of child labor, including online sexual abuse, exploitation of children, and violations of acceptable conditions of work, together with World Vision. My prayer is that the plans that will be discussed will contribute significantly towards our goal of a child-labor-free Philippines,” said Daphne Culanag, Project ACE Director. 

One of the highlights of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between World Vision (WV) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 to continue its partnership in promoting and supporting the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL), which includes planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of plans and activities for eliminating the worst forms of child labor, including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). Present at the signing were WV National Director Rommel V. Fuerte and Lucila Pulvera from DOLE-10.

Afterwards, Project ACE received a plaque of appreciation for its invaluable contributions to the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL)-10 in eliminating child labor and its worst forms. 

Cagayan de Oro City ranks fourth among the top regions in the nation with the highest incidence of child laborers in a recent survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority for the 2022 Working Children Situation. Thus, Project ACE aims to enable the collaboration of efforts with different stakeholders to intensify the government’s programs against child labor. 

DOLE Region VII Regional Director Lelia Estillore also graced the event, welcoming the participants with an inspiring message. “Let us all be subject to change in continuing these initiatives, and I would like to commend the efforts of Region 10, and on behalf of Region 7, we would like to replicate these initiatives to protect our children because we are all here curated for one purpose,” she added. 

During the event, members of the council created a unified RCACL strategic plan for 2024–2025, highlighting the 6 components of the PPACL Strategic Framework 2023–2028. 

"We were very active in supporting these initiatives, and we would continue what we started," said Glenford Labial, Senior Labor Employment Officer of Region 10, who also presented the Northern Mindanao Situationer with the achievements of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).

He presented various efforts, such as coordination meetings, orientations, and seminars, that were attended by some of the members of the Regional Council on Anti-Child Labor. These initiatives include Batang Malaya: An Art Exhibit, DOLEKULA: Advocacy Film Festival, Child Labor Resolutions and Ordinances, and the monitoring of the assisted and referred victims of child labor in the region.

Project ACE has been collaborating with various government agencies and councils in Northern Mindanao to eliminate child labor since its implementation in 2020. To meet its goals, numerous capacity-building and awareness-raising activities were conducted that resulted in improved enforcement of the legal framework, improved assistance services, and strengthened partnerships with other stakeholders.

The United States Department of Labor is providing funding under cooperative agreement number IL 34007-19-75-K. 100 percent of the total costs of the project in the Philippines are financed with United States Department of Labor funds. (WVPHILS/PIA-10)