DOLE steps up campaigns in barangays to curb child labor in Bicol

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol region has intensified its fight against child labor in the region by bringing the agency's information and mobilization campaign down to the barangay level.

DOLE information officer Raymond Escalante said the campaign is part of the plan to triple the number of child-labor free barangays in the region come the 1st quarter of 2013.

“DOLE-Bicol sees the Child Labor Free Barangay program as one of the most effective strategies to combat child labor incidence,” Escalante said.

The program was launched in five barangays of Masbate on August 31, including the villages of Pating, Bapor, Bagumbayan, Tugbo and Nursery.

Next in line, said DOLE Bicol asst director Exequiel A. Guzman, are the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Albay. DOLE targets at least three barangays per province to be free from child labor.

“So that’s about nine (9) Child Labor Free Barangays to be added in our list,” Guzman added.

In Camarines Norte, identification and creation of these barangays particularly in the municipality of Paracale is scheduled tentatively December 17 this year.

“Paracale, Camarines Norte is said to be the mining capital of the region wherein presence of suspected child laborers are imminent,” Escalante said.

Currently, DOLE Bicol has been conducting information campaigns on anti-child labor law (RA 9231) and anti-trafficking act (RA 9208) for barangay officials in the provinces to be effective partners in the advocacy to curb child labor in the region.

“DOLE-Bicol has also strengthened forty (40) Barangay Committee on the Protection of Children (BCPCs). The BCPCs will be DOLE’s partners at the Barangay level,” Escalante added.

Also conducted are trainings on the child Labor Knowledge System (CLKSS) program and regular monitoring and rescuing of child laborers in the region through the Sagip Batang Manggagawa Quick Action Teams (SBM-QAT) in the region.

SBM-QAT is an inter-agency mechanism under the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program of the DOLE. It employs a quick action team to detect, monitor and rescue child laborers in hazardous and exploitative working conditions at the community level. (MAL/SAA–PIA5/Albay)