Saturday, April 20, 2024

Tag: DOLE-10

Bukidnon has 15,000 child laborers, says DOLE

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Bukidnon has close to 15,000 child laborers, making it the province in Northern Mindanao with the highest number, according to the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 10 (DOLE-10)

DOLE defines “child labor” as including “hazardous work … which encompasses undesirable activities or work done in a hazardous environment,” and “work done for long hours of more than 40 hours and/or night time or the entire day.”

These children are working in the farms, doing domestic work, fishing, or even in construction, a DOLE-10 report emailed to MindaNews said.

The report, which profiled child laborers during the period 2018 to 2021, said that of Northern Mindanao’s five provinces, Bukidnon gained the top spot with 14,790 child laborers.

It is followed by Misamis Oriental with 10,382 (aside from the 7,793 child laborers in Cagayan de Oro City, the province’s capital), Lanao del Norte with 9,014, Misamis Occidental with 3,979, and Camiguin with 1,902.

In all of Region 10, DOLE-10 reported a total of 47,860 child laborers, 28,930 of whom are males and 18,930 females.

In terms of age bracket, the 15-17 range has the highest at 35,298, followed by 10-14 with 11,665.

“Notably, all provinces have child laborers aged 3 to 4 years old, with the highest prevalence in Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro, with 17 and 13, respectively,” said the DOLE-10 report.

“The desire of these children to help their parents is very strong that from school or after waking up in the morning, they would go to the fields to do manual work,” said Erlinda Sayago, executive director of the Kaanib Foundation, during a press conference here Wednesday.

Kaanib Foundation, DOLE-10, and the Child Fund Philippines are helping to decrease the number of child labor in Bukidnon and other Northern Mindanao provinces.

“It’s very hard to eradicate child labor in an economy relying on agriculture,” said lawyer Russel Jallorina, assistant regional director of DOLE-10.

Jallorina said work is readily available in Bukidnon’s agricultural fields, considered the food basket of Northern Mindanao where poverty incidence is among the highest in the country.

Sayoga said that aside from helping raise the income of their family, the children also look for work to pay for their school needs like notebooks and pens.

“When the schools went for online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hell for the children. Many opted to look for work instead of attending the online classes where they have to pay for the Internet,” she added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in a report released July 25, 2023, said that there were 1.48 million working children aged 5 to 17 in 2022, or about 4.7 percent of the total population of 31.71 million.

Of these working children, DOLE said that 828,000 are considered engaged in child labor.

The number, DOLE noted, is lower than in 2021, when child laborers numbered 935,000.

Across regions, Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has the highest proportion of child laborers at 12.5 percent. Northern Mindanao is at the fourth spot, with 9.4 percent. Central Visayas is second at 10.5 percent, followed by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region at 10.4 percent. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Line agencies in Normin ink MOA to eradicate child labor

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Various government agencies gathered on June 12 at SM CDO Downtown Premier and inked a memorandum of agreement, reviving the Regional Council Against Child Labor

This concerns the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) organization of the World Day Against Child Labor.
DOLE-10 Regional Director Estrella U. Pahalla said the commemoration will boost awareness of the plight of child laborers through the revival of the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL), a convergence of various government regional line agencies.
DOLE-10 spearheaded the Batang Malaya Photo Exhibit, showcasing the photos of child laborers taken during region-wide profiling.
Moreover, the activity featured the DOLEkula Film Festival Season Three Awarding Ceremony, a one-minute DOLE-10-wide digital film competition among its units that articulately interprets a Filipino child’s story against child labor activities with artistic integrity.
Other than these, a Serbisyo Karaban, a one-stop-shop for RCACL member agencies offering their respective programs and services in line with preventing and eliminating child labor, was also held. This would also demonstrate the country’s solidarity in the worldwide campaign against child labor.
According to Pahalla, DOLE-10 continuously upholds the rights of children, including their protection from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their development, particularly child labor and its worst forms, through initiatives such as the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).
CLPEP aims to remove children from child labor, particularly in its worst forms. Its strategies include the provision of livelihood grants to parents of child laborers through DILP, or the Kabuhayan Program. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)

DOLE-10 honors Bukidnon’s informal sector workers

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MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10, through its Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO), recently conducted a learning session for workers in the informal sector in line with the 2023 Labor Day commemoration

The activity aims to provide and aid the workers in the informal sector under the Labor Day theme, “Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”
DOLE-10 BukPFO Provincial Director Raul L. Valmores reassures that DOLE, through its flagship programs and services, will continuously provide job-generation initiatives to workers in the informal sector.
“We in DOLE will continue collaborating with the different government agencies and Accredited Co-Partners (ACPs) so the individual and association beneficiaries can attain a sustainable livelihood,” Valmores said.
Nineteen association beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) from a city and different municipalities in Bukidnon, including six ACPs, attended the event.
The Department of Trade and Industry Business Development Division Chief Jose Maureal discussed financial and organizational management with stakeholders of DOLE Integrated Livelihood.
“The success and sustainability of government programs depend on the maturity of the people’s organization that are empowered to become partners on project implementation,” Maureal said.
This initiative will help the association generate support in making critical financial decisions, improve the profitability of their organizations, guide the organizational structure, and ensure the alignment of employees with company policies.
The activity also included a learning session on simple bookkeeping from Abag Kalambuan Inc., Executive Director, Bienvenido Narciso, which included a workshop on simple bookkeeping to enhance knowledge of finances.
Narciso emphasized the importance of maintaining complete and accurate records of all financial transactions to ensure proper reflection in the book of accounts.
He emphasized that having basic bookkeeping knowledge is crucial as it enables easy maintenance of records and provides detailed information on expenses and income.
During the event, DILP released three livelihood starter kits, including a sari-sari store, Bigasan, and a video production project worth P70,000.
The Parents Mobilization Action Group (PMAG) was granted a total amount of P500,000 for their Consumer Store Enhancement Project.
Under Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the sugar workers received P24,000.
Each of the three beneficiaries received P8,000 for their maternity benefit claims.
All attendees pledged to support the government’s goal of transitioning informal sector workers into the formal economy, ensuring their protection under the law. They vowed to promote the welfare and decent work agenda of workers in the informal economy.
Valmores recognized the informal sector’s contribution to the country’s thrust toward a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery. (DOLE-10 Buk PFO/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

PWDs get P250-K in livelihood aid from DOLE-Bukidnon

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MALAYBALAY CITY – As part of its year-round turnover of livelihood grants to marginalized and disadvantaged informal workers in the province, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10, through Provincial Director Raul Valmores of Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (BukPFO), recently turned over livelihood assistance—with Abag Kalambuan Inc. (AKI) as the Accredited Co-Partner (ACP)—to Sinanglanan Parents and Persons with Disability Association (SiPaPDA)

The SiPaPDA, which consists of 21 parents and persons with disabilities (PWDs), chose Agrivet and Farm Supply as their livelihood project in the amount of P250,000 from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
Valmores said that through the DILP, the Department took various endeavors to help integrate marginalized and disadvantaged informal workers, including PWDs, into the mainstream and enable them to participate in its social and economic development.
Valmores also acknowledged Malaybalay local government and its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for their continued support as DOLE’s program partner.
Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran urged the recipients to use the grants wisely. He assured them that the city government stands ready to help those in need.
In the meantime, AKI Chairperson Bienvenido Narciso Jr. has expressed his confidence in the beneficiaries’ ability to meet their daily needs with the livelihood grant. He underscored the importance of maximizing it to create a positive ripple effect, benefiting not only themselves but also enabling them to extend help to others in need.
Virgilio Arenido, SiPaPDA president, is grateful for the opportunity to change their lives. He said the association could now meet the daily needs of their families while also creating employment opportunities in their community.
“We are thankful to DOLE for giving us, the PWDs, a chance in life. We thank the government for this tailored project for marginalized groups. Indeed, the government sees us and has not forgotten us,” Arenido said.
Prior to the turnover, the group attended skill-building sessions such as financial literacy and basic entrepreneurship. The DOLE designed the training to provide SiPaPDA with the knowledge and skills needed to manage livelihood endeavors.
The DOLE Livelihood Development Specialists will continue to monitor the associations and their livelihood activities after the turnover. This step makes sure that technical support is guiding the association.
The DOLE has always been a staunch advocate for promoting the rights of people with disabilities, protecting their rights, and promoting the economic empowerment of people with disabilities.
DILP, or the Kabuhayan Program of DOLE, is a flagship program of the agency that aims to help marginalized groups such as self-employed workers who are unable to earn sufficient income, unpaid family workers, low-waged and seasonal workers, workers displaced or to be displaced, marginalized and landless farmers, marginalized fisherfolk, women and youth, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, indigenous peoples, victims of armed conflicts, rebel returnees, and parents of child laborers. (DOLE-10 Buk PFO/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

DOLE, ChildFund Phils vow to eradicate child labor in Bukidnon

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MALAYBALAY CITY – Bukidnon, an agricultural province with the highest incidence of child labor, is taking strong measures to combat and eliminate child labor

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that in 2021, the number of working children in the country engaged in child labor was estimated at around 935,000. Fifteen in every 100 child laborers were in northern Mindanao. The agriculture sector reported the highest proportion of working children, at 45.7 percent in 2021.

In line with its commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and protecting them from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, discrimination, and other detrimental conditions affecting their growth, the Department of Labor and Employment-Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (DOLE-10 Buk PFO), headed by Provincial Director Raul L. Valmores, recently participated in the project launch of ChildFund Philippines at the Ritz Hotel in Davao City.

The project, titled “Building Capacities of Civil Society Organizations, Local Government Units, and Government Line Agencies in Mindanao to Address Child Labor through Promotion of Acceptable Conditions of Work in Crop Agriculture,” is an initiative of ChildFund Philippines with Kaanib Foundation, funded by the European Union (EU).

This two-year project will be carried out in Bukidnon province, specifically in four barangays of Malaybalay City.

Project coordinator Alvin Dumduma said this would focus on implementing sustainable community-based programs to stir awareness and promote a better understanding of child labor; enact relevant government policies; establish efficient reporting, referral, and response mechanisms against child labor; and enhance access for child laborers to the government’s allocation of resources, quality education, and training opportunities.

Anand Vishwakarma, ChildFund Philippines Country Director, emphasized that the road ahead is challenging.

“Together, we are one step closer to achieving the goal of a country where Filipino children and youths are not deprived of their childhood, potential, and dignity,” he said.

Vishwakarma underscored the importance of a collaborative effort among the government, local communities, and other stakeholders in supporting children and their families.

The project launch aims to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs), local government units (LGUs), and government agencies (GAs) in crafting advocacy strategies, policies, and programs for the prevention, protection, and removal of children from hazardous and exploitative work in Mindanao.

Valmores said that DOLE is not the only organization concerned with improving children’s welfare, as it is a shared concern in the community; thus, a comprehensive strategy is necessary to resolve the daunting issue of child labor.

Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) Focal Mark Anthony Combong and Community Facilitator (CF) Clebel Guinayon vowed to go the extra mile to combat child labor and its worst forms.

Valmores explained that the Department is strengthening its implementation of CLPEP by transforming pre-identified barangays with high incidences of child labor into child-labor-free barangays in Bukidnon.

He said that for the first quarter of 2023, the DOLE-10 Buk PFO has already started its turnover of individual projects to 701 parents or guardians of child laborers, amounting to over P10.5 million.

Valmores reported that the EU project coordinator and a representative from Kaanib Foundation Inc. visited DOLE-10 BukPFO on March 16, 2023, to discuss collaborative programs between ChildFund Philippines and DOLE to address the challenges faced by child laborers and their families, including aspects of advocacy, education, and livelihood assistance.

The CLPEP is part of the government’s commitment to combat child labor through intensified efforts to achieve a child-labor-free Philippines.

The DOLE is the lead agency in implementing the Philippine Program Against Child Labor and the Chair of the National Council Against Child Labor created under EO No. 92. (DOLE-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

DOLE-10, BukSU job fair yields 51 HOTS

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MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 Job Fair hosted by Bukidnon State University (BukSU) recently generated 51 Hired-On-The-Spot (HOTS) at the University Gymnasium

Through its Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO), DOLE-10 and BukSU collaborated to help graduates and current students find employment.

DOLE-Bukidnon Chief Raul Valmores said the HOTS would start their new careers in their respective workplaces. Employers who hired the applicants have been in service-related fields like financial services and business process outsourcing.

Additionally, HOTS Mariel Cantabeja considered the opportunity and the experience to be an honor.

“I already prepared for my trip here and decided which company I would like to apply to. My goal was to get a job. I was thrilled to be hired quickly after applying to my top choice. I’ll bring some good news home with me, she said.

Like many other applicants, Mariel walked in as a hopeful candidate among the 269 job seekers and secured one of the 2,370 available positions offered by 37 local and overseas agencies. Centro Supersales, Inc. hired her as a cashier.

“It was hard being unemployed. I wanted to support my family’s needs. That’s why I decided to join this job fair,” Cantabeja said.

Similarly, Kristine Jean Laoganas, one of the HOTS applicants, expressed her joy, saying, “I am thrilled to have secured a position as a virtual assistant at ACS VA Holdings. I had envisioned applying for numerous job openings to seize this exceptional opportunity. After applying to multiple companies, I finally received the news of being hired.”

Valmores said the DOLE’s Job Fair enhances unemployed individuals’ access to job opportunities.

“It not only extends its reach to individuals who are poor, unemployed, and displaced in rural areas but also offers a convenient platform for job seekers to connect with potential employers. It reduces the necessity for expensive transportation and other expenses when traveling to the city or areas where job vacancies are available,” he said.

He explained that job fairs are also a way to support anti-illegal recruitment campaigns by enabling jobseekers’ access to legitimate employers/recruitment agencies.

The job fair also generated 206 near-hires, referring to job seekers who have been conditionally hired but still need to submit additional or missing requirements or may be required to attend further interviews or exams. (DOLE-10-Bukidnon Provincial Field Office/PIA-10/Bukidnon)