PH scores highest in qualitative rating on child labor
efforts based in the US DOL 2012 report
L
abor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz expressed elation over the report of the United
States Department of Labor (US DOL), “2012
Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor”, showing the
Philippines as one of 10 countries, out of 144, which “made
significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst
forms of child labor”.
Baldoz said the report is an affirmation of the Philippines’s
focused and determined efforts in eliminating the worst forms
of child labor through coordinated enforcement of all relevant
laws and regulations and policies and implementation of
social programs and projects.
The annual US DOL report, mandated by the Trade and
Development Act of 2000, provides information on the
efforts of certain U.S. trade beneficiary countries to eliminate
the worst forms of child labor. It assesses government action
to advance efforts in eliminating the worst forms of child
labor; highlights major findings related to each government’s
efforts; and provides country-specific suggestions for actions
that would help combat the problems each country is facing.
On the Philippines, the report observed that the goal
of reducing child labor is already mainstreamed into the
Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016, the accompanying
document of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016,
and included in the Millennium Development Goals 20002015; Education for All National Plan 2004-2015; Basic
Education Reform Agenda, and the UN Development
Assistance Framework 2012-2018.
The MTDP specifies government commitments to
strengthen mechanisms for monitoring the implementation
of child protection laws; to develop strategies to respond
to child trafficking and pornography; and to implement
an enhanced program for preventing children from being
engaged in armed conflict.
The US DOL 2012 report observed that the country had
ratified the ILO Convention 189 on Domestic Workers
and enacted into law the Domestic Workers Act, or Batas
Kasambahay, and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Act.
It noted the country’s launch of the national Child LaborFree Philippines Campaign, and the Department of Labor
and Employment’s Child Labor-Free Barangay program.
The program, initiated by Secretary Baldoz in 2012, aims to
transform identified villages nationwide into child labor-free
communities through partnerships with local government
units in developing child labor elimination plans with shortand long-term objectives, and convergence of services with
various national government agencies, including education
SIGNIFICANT MOVE AGAINST CHILD LABOR PAYS OFF. Labor and
Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis stresses a point during last year’s
Batang Malaya launch while NSO Administrator Carmelita Ericta and ILO
Country Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson listen.
services to child laborers and livelihood assistance to their
parents.
“I welcome the US DOL’s 2012 report for appreciating the
efforts of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino
III in reducing and eliminating exploitative child labor,
identifying the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan,
2011-2016 as one of potent government policies in reducing
the worst forms of child labor,” said Baldoz.
She said the report particularly cited the new national
convergence Plan, H.E.L.P. M. E. to remove 893,000 children
from hazardous child labor across 15,568 target barangays
by 2016 through a convergence strategy that brings down
the government’s child labor programs and services down
the barangay level, the lowest echelon of governance in the
country.
H.E.L.P. stands for health, education, livelihood, and
prevention, protection, and prosecution, while M.E. stands
for monitoring and evaluation. The convergence program
is funded by P9 billion (US$220 million) spread over four
years.
“H.E.L.P. M.E., which President Aquino III tasked the
Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet
Cluster to formulate, will contribute to the realization of
the country’s ultimate Millennium Development Goal of
eradicating poverty through decent work,” said Baldoz.
“By 2016 we aim to have freed at least 75 percent of the 2.9
million child laborers in the country. We intend to vigorously
Turn to page 6
DOLE Good News
T
DOLE Good News
he Department of Labor and Employment -Bukidnon
Provincial Field Office, Malaybalay City recently
facilitated the Department’s Project Angel Tree
Program together with the Bukidnon Tripartite Industrial
Peace Council (BTIPC) and the Local Government Unit
(LGU) of Malaybalay City at the barangays of Managok,
Linabo, and San Jose, which benefited over 390 students also
identified as child laborers at those areas.
Earlier, the Province of Bukidnon conducted a walkfor-a- cause, dubbed “Lakaw ta Para sa Bata” last May 1,
2013 during the Labor Day celebration, which collected
P92,174.47 proceeds for the school supplies of the intended
student-beneficiaries.
School supplies like notebooks, pads of paper, crayons,
scissors, ball pens and other sports supplies, such as chess board,
basketball, volleyball, and badminton were distributed to ten
(10) schools from the said barangays. 209 student-beneficiaries
came from San Jose Elementary and National High School,
Mabuhay Elementary School, and Pamanucan Elementary
School; 95 students from Linabo Elementary School, Lalawan
Elementary School, and Lalawan National High School
Annex; and 86 students from Managok Elementary School
and Managok National High School Annex.
“The Project Angel Tree, thru BTIPC, really aims to help
child laborers to go to school by providing them school
supplies. We may not know, maybe in the future, these students
will become future leaders successful in their chosen field of
career,” BTIPC Chairperson and DOLE Bukidnon Provincial
Head Raul Valmores said.
On their part, Lanibo Elementary School Principal Alot
Rara expressed gratitude to the conscious effort of the DOLE
regional office in reaching out to more underprivileged youth
in the grassroots.
“I am very grateful that our school was chosen as a
beneficiary, I’m sure these schools supplies
would be a great help to all of them. As
the students knew about this, they were
all hopeful and excited. This gives them
inspiration at school. I am very thankful
for this,” he said.
Project Angel Tree in Malaybalay City
benefits 390 underprivileged youth
In Cavite, DOLE educates over 4,000
graduating students with LMI
T
he Department of Labor and
Employment Cavite Provincial
Office (DOLE-CPO) recently
conducted a lecture on Career
Information and Guidance Counseling
(CIGC) and Career Planning Seminar
to seven (7) public high schools in the
province of Cavite. The activity was
initiated by the guidance counselors
class advisers of each participating
school.
Over 4,800 graduating high school
students attended the CIGC to guide
them in their career choice through the
DOLE’s career advocacy programs.
These students belonged to the
participating public schools, namely:
General Emilio Aguinaldo National
High School in Gen. Aguinaldo (Bailen);
Cavite National Science High School in
Maragondon; Banay-Banay National
High School in Amadeo; Dasmariñas
National High School Main Campus;
Dasmariñas National High School
East Campus; Pag-asa National High
School; and Kaong National High
School in Silang, Cavite.
Mr. Ricky Martin Velasco, Mr.
Vincent Martinez and Ms. Myrose
Basila of DOLE-CPO shared their
expertise as resource persons to the
different schools who conducted their
career advocacy.
The CIGC is part of the career
guidance week celebration aimed to
educate students on making informed
decisions on a career choice and to give
awareness on the career opportunities
available in the labor market.
The implementation of a massive
information and education drive on
all available labor market information
has been one of the DOLE’s way of
addressing the perennial problem of
unemployment and jobs and skills
mismatch.
Ms. Myrose B. Basila of DOLE-Cavite Provincial Office (CPO) conducts
lecture on Career Information and Guidance Counseling (CIGC) at
General Emilio Aguinaldo National High School in Gen. Aguinaldo,
Bailen, Cavite.
Editor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
Associate Editor
KAREN R. SERRANO
The DOLE Good News is published by the Department
of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the
Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building,
Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are
those of the writers and/or their sources and do not
necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine
Government’s.
Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome.
Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 5273000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also
visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@
yahoo.com or [email protected].
September 2013
Contributing Regional Writers
DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR
PATRICK T. RILLORTA - CAR
ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2
Staff Writers
MARK JAIME L. CERDENIA
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
CELESTE T. MARING
HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY
REVELITA F. LAXINA
FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A
Editorial Assistants
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
MADELYN D. DOMETITA
EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3
ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B
RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5
AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6
FLORENCE D. PANAO - Region 8
MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10
CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12
IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga
In Camanava, DOLE-NCR
strengthens partnership
with LIRO- PESO Caloocan
N
ew
DOLE
National
Capital Region Director
Alex Avila reported to
Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz that
its CAMANAVA Field Office
has partnered with the Labor and
Industrial Relations Office-PESO
of Caloocan City in a bid to refresh
and enhance the knowledge of
LIRO-PESO personnel on the basic
employment services and programs
related to labor relations and labor
standards.
“We aim to strengthen our
working partnership with the LGU
of Caloocan City to enable the City
to deliver efficient labor relations
and employment facilitation services
to the people of Caloocan,” said
Avila.
Toward this end, the DOLE
Camanava Field Office conducted
an orientation-seminar on DOLENCR programs for officials and
employees of the LIRO-PESO at the
Caloocan City Hall.
Erick C. Balane, the new LIROPESO Caloocan City manager
expressed gratitude to the DOLE for
the partnership.
“I am very grateful for the support
of the DOLE CAMANAVA Field
Office to the efforts of the LIROPESO Caloocan City to respond to
the needs of the Caloocanons,” he
said.
In response, ARD Nelson C.
Hornilla extended his deep gratitude
to the City Government of Caloocan,
particularly the LIRO-PESO, for
its unwavering cooperation with
DOLE-NCR.
“We are partners in helping the
Filipino people achieve decent and
productive employment. We need to
intensify the dissemination of labor
market information (LMI), for this
will help in reducing unemployment
and underemployment in our
country. Updated, correct, and
relevant LMI will help job seekers
make correct decisions. They will
also know the in-demand and hardto-fill occupations locally,” he said.
September 2013
DOLE Good News
DOLE Good News
T
he brightest of the country’s
Public Employment Service
Offices, or PESOs, were
honored and recognized at the
Awards Night on 25 September,
the most anticipated highlight of
the 13th National PESO Congress
held at The Oriental Leyte Hotel
and Resorts in Palo, Leyte from 2427 September on the theme, PESO,
Kabalikat at Gabay sa Disente at
Matatag na Paghahanap-buhay.
Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz led the
team of DOLE and PESOPHIL
officials and PESO managers who
recognized the past year’s best
performing PESOs among the 1,887
PESOs nationwide.
“The strong network of PESOs--of
which 1,270 PESOs are active and
200 are already institutionalized-consistently performs commendable
employment facilitation services, they
having placed over a million workers
in 2012,” Baldoz said, adding:
“It is but right to acknowledge them
for helping deliver the government’s
employment facilitation machinery
to the countryside. Tonight, they reap
the rewards of their labor as we give
them the highest recognition.”
DOLE
Undersecretary
for
Employment
and
Manpower
Development Danilo P. Cruz, who
opened the joyous Awards Night at the
grand ballroom of the sprawling The
Oriental Hotel, said the Best PESO
Awards is “our way of saying ‘thank
you’ for a job well done—for giving
your best efforts in facilitating and
providing employment services.’”
“The plaques, the recognition,
and the cash rewards you will
receive tonight are just symbols
of your committed and dedicated
service; what is more important
are the lives of the people you have
touched,” Cruz said, referring to the
PESOS’ clients--the jobseekers who
have been employed; the poor but
deserving students who were able to
pursue their studies; the employers
who have hired qualified workers
on time; the young people who
have undergone appropriate skills
training; the learning institutions that
have acquired timely labor market
information; and the students who
September 2013
DOLE, PESOPHIL award best PESOs of 2012
2013 NATIONAL PESO
CONGRESS. Labor and
Employment Secretary
Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz (left) delivers
her keynote message
during the opening of
13th National Public
Employment Service
Office (PESO) Congress
held at The Oriental
Leyte Hotel and Resorts,
Palo, Leyte. Also in photo
are (from right to left)
Palo Mayor Remedios
Petilla, and National
PESO President Elizabeth
Alonzo.
1st
Secretary’s
Award
Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz (2nd from left) and Undersecretary Danilo P. Cruz (left) confers
the Secretary’s Award to the Provincial PESO of Zambales, represented
by Vice Governor and Provincial PESO Manager Ramon Lacbain II (2nd
from right) and to the DOLE Regional Office No. 3 represented by Director
Raymundo G. Agravante and TSSD Chief Nely Punzalan (3rd and 4th from
left, respectively) for having performed exemplary accomplishments in
supporting the Department’s thrusts and advocacies. At right is PESO
National President Elizabeth L. Alonzo.
PESO
Hall of
Famer
have guided career paths to follow.
The Search for the Best PESOs is
an annual activity that recognizes the
significant PESO contributions and
outstanding accomplishments in the
implementation of DOLE employment
facilitation programs.
The PESOs nominated for the 2012
awards were regional winners chosen
by their respective Regional Best PESO
Search Committee, composed of the
DOLE Regional Director as Chairman,
and the Technical Support Services
Division Chief and Regional PESO
President as members.
At the national level, the Best PESO
Awards Committee is composed of
A STREAK OF WINNING
PERFORMANCE. Assisted
by Undersecretary
Danilo P. Cruz, Labor and
Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
hands out a plaque of
recognition to Ariel Mugol,
Provincial PESO Manager
of Gen. Trias, Cavite for
being a PESO Hall of Famer.
Undersecretary Cruz as Chairman, and
Assistant Secretary Rebecca Calzado;
BLE Director Dominique Rubia-Tutay;
and BLE Phil-Job.Net Division Chief
Evelyn Dacumos as members.
The 2012 Search for Best PESOs
produced 52 nominees in nine
categories, namely, First Class Province,
nine nominees; Second Class Province,
two nominees; Third Class Province,
one
nominee;
Highly-Urbanized
City, seven nominees; Component
City, eight nominees; 1st-2nd Class
Municipality, 10 nominees; 3rd-4th
Class Municipality, eight nominees;
5th-6th Class Municipality, three
nominees; and National Best PESO in
▼Secretary Baldoz (right) receives
a plaque of appreciation from
National PESO President Elizabeth
Alonzo (left) as Palo, Leyte Mayor
Remedios Petilla looks on during
the 13th National PESO Congress.
▲PESO THROUGH THE YEARS. Labor
and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from left), National
PESO President Elizabeth Alonzo, and
other PESO officials view the PESO
milestones in photos at the PESO Photo
Gallery, which officially opened the 13th
National PESO Congress held at The
Oriental Leyte Hotel and Resorts in Palo,
Leyte.
State Universities and Colleges, four
nominees.
The 2012 winners in each category
are as follows:
(1) First Class Province—Region
1, Provincial PESO of Pangasinan,
headed by PESO Manager Alex Ferrer
and Governor Amado Espino;
(2) Second Class Province—
Region 3, Provincial PESO of Zambales,
under PESO Manager Ramon Lacbain
II, also Vice Governor, and Governor
Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.;
(3) Third Class Province—Region
8, Provincial PESO of Southern
Leyte, under PESO Manager Norman
Victor Ordiz and Governor Damian
Mercado;
(4) Highly Urbanized City—
National Capital Region, PESO
Quezon City, under PESO Manager
Magno Abella and Mayor Herbert
Bautista; and Region 11, PESO Davao
City, under PESO Manager Lilibeth
Pantinople and Mayor Sarah Duterte;
(5) Component City—Region 3,
PESO Palayan City, Nueva City, under
PESO Manager Emmarie Martinez
and Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas; and
Region 11, PESO Bislig City, Surigao
del Sur, under PESO Manager Anwar
Maadel and Mayor Rey Uy;
(6) 1st-2nd Class Municipality—
Region 4-A, PESO General Trias,
Cavite, under PESO Manager Ariel
Mugol and Mayor Luis Ferrer,
IV; and Region 10, PESO Lugait,
Misamis Oriental, under PESO
Manager Patricio Parami and Mayor
Wellie Lim;
(7) 3rd-4th Class Municipality—
Cordillera Administrative Region,
PESO Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, under
PESO Manager Imelda Pascual and
Mayor Glenn Prudenciano;
(8) 5th-6th Class Municipality—
Region 8, PESO Maripipi, Biliran,
under PESO Manager Virgildes
Conde and Mayor Uldarico Macorol;
and
(9) National Best PESO in State
Universities and Colleges—Region
9, St. Vincent College of Dipolog
City, under PESO Manager Sylvia
Sumondong and School President
Bishop Jose Manguiran.
All the Best PESO winners received
plaques and cash prizes of P50,000
each. The PESO of General Trias,
Cavite was elevated to the PESO
Hall of Fame, receiving a plaque and
cash prize of P100,000.
For the first time in PESO history,
Baldoz conferred the Secretary’s
Award, which was handed to the
Provincial PESO of Zambales
for having performed exemplary
accomplishments in supporting
the Department’s thrusts and
advocacies. A Secretary’s Award
was also conferred to the DOLE
Regional Office No. 3 for performing
commendable
assistance
and
exemplified efforts in pushing the
Department’s advocacy on PESO
institutionalization.
Baldoz challenged the PESOPHIL
“to further strengthen its role in
facilitating jobs in your localities to
promote priority sectors for inclusive
growth.”
“I challenge all PESOs to unite
and renew your commitment for
the cause of improving the lives of
people through timely and effective
delivery of services. Let us work
together towards our common goal
of attaining decent and gainful
employment for all Filipinos,”
Baldoz said in congratulating all the
winners.
September 2013
DOLE Good News
DOLE Good News
F
or Ardel Laroya, the best thing
that happened to him for being
a four-year beneficiary of the
DOLE’s Special Program for the
Employment of Students, or SPES, is to
be engaged and in love with community
work.
It is not hard to understand why he
said it.
The SPES--and the things he learned
from being a SPES beneficiary--has led
him to many opportunities not only for
personal advancement, but also for his
family.
Ardel, 32, has earned a BS
Accountancy degree with distinction
through the help of the SPES.
He is one of the successful
beneficiaries engaged by the local
government unit of Bani, Pangasinan
under its program in community and
social projects development.
The Municipality of Bani has long
been a partner of the Department
of Labor and Employment in the
implementation of the SPES.
Every year, Bani employs at least 100
student-workers to help in barangay
projects, such as social services delivery
and clean-up and greening, and to
perform office work.
Ardel recounted how, from 1999 to
2002, the SPES provided him financially
for his college education, especially
that his parents were not capable of
supporting his schooling.
“I am thankful for the SPES for
numerous reasons. Not only did it help
me financially. Most of all, my work
exposure has instilled in me the skills
and values which prepared me for my
PH scores highest . . .
from page 1
implement H.E.L.P. M.E. through
stronger cooperation among partners
to ensure that this target is achieved,”
added Baldoz.
The US DOL report also noted
the expansion of the Conditional
Cash Transfer program, also known
as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program, or 4Ps, to include child
laborers and its re-design to include
child labor as a conditionality. In
January this year, the 4Ps was modified
through the Conditional Cash
September 2013
In Bani, Pangasinan, young man lands
in job he loves through SPES
work. It taught me commitment, hard
work, patience, confidence, prudence
and compassion. It gave me muchneeded experience,” Ardel shared.
“It was way back during my SPES
times that I have come to love working
with and for the people,” he added.
Today, Ardel works for the Department
of Social Welfare and DevelopmentRegional Field Office 1 as Project
Development
Officer/Sustainable
Livelihood Program Training Officer.
“It’s like I never have to work because
my job is like second nature to me,” he
quipped.
Having a strong sense of responsibility
not only over his community, but more
so for his family, Ardel says it now
payback time. From his salary, he
supports the education of his sibling,
who is now in his first year in college.
The SPES is a school-to-work
appreciation
program
of
the
Department of Labor and Employment
which aims to assist poor, but deserving,
students finish their education through
employment in short-term jobs, during
summer for those in the secondary
level and any time of the year for
those in tertiary/technical-vocational
level. Under the program, the salaries
of worker-student-beneficiaries are
co-shouldered by the DOLE and the
participating employers in a 40-60
scheme.
Regional Director Ursua said the
SPES serves not just as a source of
financial support for the education of
its beneficiaries, but most importantly, it
provides them with the relevant training
ground and experience that will be
valuable and useful when they formally
join the labor market.
“The DOLE, through the SPES, will
continue to help more Ardels realize
their dreams by enabling them to
appreciate the value of work,” Ursua
ended.
Transfer Program for Families in Need
of Special Protection to specifically
target households of child laborers,
with child eligibility raised from age 14
to age 17. It also added a conditionality
prohibiting hazardous child labor as a
requirement for continued eligibility to
the program.
“The
policy
choices
and
accompanying investments that have
been made in education and social
protection by our government must
have made considerable impact on
the reporting by the US DOL on the
progress of our fight against child
labor,” Baldoz said.
She added that the information in
the US DOL 2012 report on child labor
are essential tools in the country’s
intensified effort to stop child labor,
especially its worst forms.
“The findings and recommendations
in the report are valuable inputs that
we will consider. The challenge of
strict enforcement and sustained
implementation of the social programs
already in place, backed up by policies,
laws, and regulations that already
exist are all in our court now. I urge
the Filipino people to join us in this
fight for the future of our children,”
Baldoz said.
DOLE releases P950-K livelihood grant to 321 IPs of Tapaz, Capiz
T
he DOLE Regional Office No.
6 headed by Regional Director
Ponciano Ligutom recently
released P950,000 worth of financial
assistance for the livelihood of 321
members of indigenous peoples (IPs) in
Tapaz, Capiz.
Ligutom reported that the DOLE
regional office released on September
13 three checks amounting to P950,000
to the local government of Tapaz,
Capiz in a simple awarding ceremony
during
the
Executive-Legislative
Agenda Formulation conference held
at Smallville 21 Hotel, Iloilo City.
The amount is DOLE’s counterpart
in the P1.8 million Abaca Production
Project which will benefit 321
indigenous people from Barangays
Maliao and Hilwan in Tapaz, Capiz
under the Tubong-Tubong Project,
a convergence program of the
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE), 3rd Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army (PA), Fiber Industry
Development
Authority
(FIDA),
National Commission on Indigenous
People (NCIP), Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of
DOLE RO 6 Regional
Director Ponciano M.
Ligutom hands over to
Mayor Rose Gardose of
LGU-Tapaz, Capiz three
checks amounting to
P950,000 representing
DOLE’s share in the
P1.8million Abaca
Production Project. This
event was witnessed
by the representatives
of partner-agencies/
organizations and local
officials of Tapaz.
Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Department of
Health (DOH), Capiz State University
(CapSU) and the local government of
Tapaz, Capiz.
Tubong-Tubong is a local term for
convergence.
“The Abaca Production Project
aims to develop the existing abaca
production in Barangays Hilwan
and Maliao which were identified by
the FIDA as major abaca-producing
barangays in Capiz, as well as to
enhance the lives of the indigenous
people in such areas,” Ligutom said.
In his message during the award rites,
Director Ligutom emphasized that this
convergence towards the development
of two the Tapaz barangays is a shared
responsibility of all partners. Thus, he
reminded them to also release their
counterpart fund for the P1.8-million
project so it can be fully implemented.
The P1.8 million will be used in
putting up a semi-mechanized facility
for the production of abaca fiber. It
will be used for the purchase of seven
abaca stripping machines; 200 pieces
of standardized stripping knives; and
the establishment of a 40-hectare abaca
farm.
In Mindoro, Mangyan worker-groups benefit
from DOLE’s P730,000.00 worth of livelihood assistance
Paluan as their accredited co-partner
(ACP), received P200,000.00 for their
pastillas production; and Samahang
Nagkakaisang Katutubong Mangyan
Iraya from the Municipality of Sta. Cruz
(mangyan tribe), with the Provincial
Government of Occidental Mindoro
as their ACP, that was awarded with
P300,000.00 for their proposed “green
stone” craft processing or the famous
Mindoro jade transformed into elegant
jewelries and decorations.
On his part, Occidental Mindoro
Governor Gene Mendiola was grateful
to the assistance given by DOLE and
assured that all supports needed by
the association shall be promptly given
and shall be working closely with the
members of the convergence group to
effectively monitor and augment the
income of the mangyan tribe.
In
response,
the
respective
beneficiaries reassured that the
livelihood grants shall be fully utilized
to help them alleviate their plight
leading towards the road to a more
stable profits and better life for the
members and their families.
T
he Department of Labor and
Employment Regional Office
No. 4B recently awarded a total
of P730,000.00 worth of livelihood
assistance to 102 mangyan workers
from three associations in the northern
to southern part of the province under
the DOLE Integrated Livelihood
Program (DILP).
The mangyan worker-groups were
all thankful for the DOLE’s assistance
to their proposed livelihood projects.
The Frootcrops Developers Association
(FDA) was awarded with P230, 000.00
for the development of an ube processing
center in the province; the Paluan
Food Processors Association (PAFPA)
with the Municipal Government of
September 2013
DOLE provides P335K-worth
of livelihood assistance to parents
of child laborers in Ormoc City
BETTER FUTURE IN EXCHANGE OF WORKING TOOLS. Child laborers
from Ormoc City surrender working tools to Labor and Employment
Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who promised them better future
through provision of livelihood kits to their parents, in a simple ceremony
held at the DOLE Regional Office 8, Tacloban, Leyte. The grant was
witnessed by Region 8 Director Exequiel Sarcauga.
R
ight after her recent visit to DOLE Regional
Office No. 8, Labor and Employment
Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
encouraged parents of child laborers and, at the
same time, recipients of the P335,000-worth of
livelihood assistance to help themselves become
self-sufficient.
“This is a livelihood project for the families of
child laborers in the sugar industry of Barangay
Dolores, Ormoc City,” Baldoz said, noting that
at least 28 mothers, who are members of Dolores
Livelihood Community Assistance (DOLICA), are
expected to make productive use of the vegetable
production grant.
“We expect that the DOLICA will remain true
to their commitment of establishing a sustainable
livelihood undertaking that will prevent children at
risk from entering into child labor, remove children
already engaged in such, and, ultimately, to return
them to the folds of education,” she added.
DOLE RO8 Director Exequiel Sarcauga reported
to Baldoz that the beneficiaries have been profiled
through the DOLE and World Vision joint project—
the Pag-aaral ng Bata para sa Kaunlaran 3rd Phase
Livelihood, Education, Advocacy and Protection
(ABK 3 LEAP) Project.
Following the Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) signed at the national level on 31 May 2013,
the DOLE-RO8’s West Leyte Field Office forged an
alliance with the World Vision to implement ABK 3
LEAP in four pilot barangays in Ormoc City. These
four barangays, mostly sugarcane areas, are Brgy.
Dolores, Brgy. Dayhagan, Brgy. Juaton, and Brgy.
Matica-a.
Sarcauga reported further that, aside from the
provision of technical livelihood assistance to
DOLICA, other activities in the pipeline are, as
follows: (1) Program Stakeholders Strategic Planning
and Commitment in October 2013 in celebration of
National Children’s Month; (2) Livelihood Projects
in the 4 identified pilot barangays, as well as, other
barangays of Ormoc City; and (3) Orientation on
Occupational Safety and Health for families in the
Sugarcane areas.
The project shall be implemented under the
Kabuhayan para sa Magulang ng Batang Manggagawa
(KASAMA), a program of DOLE aimed to contribute
to the prevention and elimination of child labor by
providing families of child laborers access to decent
livelihood opportunities for enhanced income.
In anticipation of the project’s success, Sarcauga
reported to Baldoz that parents of the children have
expressed desire, after they have been oriented
earlier on child labor and on the DOLE’s campaign,
to send their children back to school, provided they
can have means to earn extra other than sending off
their children to work in the sugarcane farms.
Baldoz, in this regard, has directed Sarcauga to
train the parents in skills that will enable them to
initiate income-generating activities and to provide
them assistance.
“Your second home are the school, not the sugar
plantations,” Baldoz said to the children, while
handing out the tool kits to their parents.
Toward this end, the labor and employment
chief expressed gratitude to World Vision for its
continuous support and long term commitment in
the fight against child labor.
“Your shared commitment has made it possible
for us to free more barangays from child labor,” she
added.
She emphasized that partnerships with local
officials and other anti-child labor advocates is
necessary for the Child
Labor-Free Barangay
Campaign to succeed.
“It is about time that
we take a developmental
approach in helping
child laborers and their
parents to free our
country’s
barangays
from the bondage of
child labor, particularly
in its worst forms,”
Baldoz said.