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Poverty.
This was the reason that led the five among the eleven children of Ms. Marites Esleta of Barangay Putat, Nasugbu, Batangas, to be engaged in the worst forms of labor.
“Ako po ay pinagkalooban ng labing isang anak tapos [dahil] po sa kahirapan ng buhay, ang lima ko pong anak napilitan ko pong pagtrabahuhin dahil po hindi nasapat ‘yung kinikita naming mag-asawa,” Ms. Esleta narrated.
Despite the imminent dangers of working in hazardous labor in the industry of farming, to aid them in surviving through the day.
During the 2022 Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) Profiling, the situation of Ms. Esleta’s family came to the attention of the Department of Labor and Employment - Batangas Provincial Office (DOLE BPO).
Just this September 6, 2023, to grant relief to Ms. Esleta’s family and to aid them in removing their children from the worst forms of labor, the department released a livelihood package of negokart with fish balls, kikiam, and other street food.
CAPTION: Ms. Esleta’s children are no longer engaged in the worst forms of labor after they received their new negokart.
“Hanggang sa ngayon po ay pinapaikot-ikot ko po iyon hanggang sa doon na rin po nakuha ng pambili po ng bigas tapos pambaon ng mga bata, iyon po,” she shared.
According to Ms. Esleta, after receiving the livelihood package, her children no longer have to work in hazardous areas as they are focused on studying full-time.
“Malaking tulong po sa akin maraming maraming salamat po at ang laki po ng pagbabago simula po noong matanggap ko po yung livelihood na iyon. Maraming maraming salamat po at isa po ako sa nabigyan napakalaking tulong po nito sa amin. Salamat po,” Ms. Esleta remarked.
The family of Ms. Esleta is just one of the many beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program for parents of child laborers whose lives were changed and whose children were removed from the worst forms of child labor.