ENDING CHILD LABOR. Atty. Joffrey M. Suyao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment, appeals to barangays to help end child labor. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – Barangays here were asked to help eliminate child labor in the city.
Attorney Joffrey M. Suyao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment, issued the appeal during the observance of World Day Against Child Labor.
He said with the help of the non-government sectors, they can spread their advocacy in eliminating child labors in the barangays.
Kaugmaon aims to raise the awareness of the community regarding child labor.
“Since DOLE can’t already reach them, with the help of Kaugmaon, they already identified the child laborers in some areas and pass it to different agencies to aid those child laborers,” Suyao said.
“We encourage barangays to be vigilant and activate their council to protect the children,” he said.
Suyao said that the council should implement programs to eliminate child labor as one of their main priorities in their barangays.
“There are already activities lined up in barangays to educate the public that child labor is not allowed,” he said.
Suyao said that he advised the barangays to cooperate and submit their reports about child labor in their area “so that DOLE will know of the presence of child laborers in the area.”
“What we can only do is advocacy that is why we need the help of everybody,” he said.
Suyao said that DOLE comes up with the “Help Me Convergence” to aid child laborers when it comes to their health, education, fight against poverty and prosecutes those companies who violates the laws.
He said that DOLE partnered with other government agencies like Department of Health and Department of Justice in the convergence program.
“This Convergence program is the forefront program to answer our calls on fighting against child labor,” he said.
Suyao said that the simplest way to determine if a child is under child labor is “they are already deprived with their normal growth, well-being and their education.”
Suyao said that they also wish to strengthen their partnership with the local government units.(davaotoday.com)
