DOLE’S PROJECT ANGEL TREE GOES TO LOBO BATANGAS

DOLE-Batangas
Mar 30
3 min read

The Department of Labor and Employment IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office, in partnership with various partners, joined forces in making the holiday season extra special for profiled child laborers and their families during this year's implementation of the Project Angel Tree, held in Lobo, Batangas, on December 16.

A total of 80 children and their parents participated in the activity, to which they received various gifts from generous private companies that turned over grocery packs, Christmas packages, school supplies, fruits, rice, snack and food packs.

Ms. Camille Garcia, one of the parents of a profiled child laborer, shared that her daughter resorted to working at an early age since their family has been experiencing financial challenges.

“Tumutulong na po siya dahil nakikita niya na po yung hirap namin sa financial na pang araw araw po na kakailanganin po namin. Si Alexandra po mismo ang tumutulong sakin araw araw. Minsan naman po kapag hindi ko po kaya at masama ang aking pakiramdam, siya na po ang nagde-deliver po,” she narrated.

During the profiling of DOLE’s Community Facilitators, Alexandra was one of the children who was identified as engaged in the hazardous work. This December, the Department provided Alexandra and her family with much-needed assistance. With this, she vowed, no longer to engage her child in any type of work that will adversely affect her child’s growth and development.

“Maraming maraming maraming maraming salamat po. Sana po marami pa po kayong matulungan na kagaya namin at sana po lumaki pa po ang inyong ginagawang ito na madami kayong matulungan po. Maraming maraming salamat po. Ang akin pong anak ay pag iigihin ko po ang pag aaralin ko po hanggat sa makakaya po namin at hindi ko po pag tatrabahuhin muna hanggat wala pa sa hustong edad,” Ms. Camille uttered.

In her opening remarks, Director Predelma Tan of DOLE Batangas recognized the significant role of the partners and the local government unit in reinforcing the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) in achieving a child labor-free Philippines. She further shared that most of the private partners this year already committed their continuous support of the gift-giving activities of the Department for the benefit of the parents and the children.

Moreover, the DOLE also partnered with the LGU of Lobo, Batangas, headed by Mayor Geronimo Alfiler and their PESO Manager, Ms. Melanie Rosario, to realize the initiatives of the Department in combating child labor and helping families end the cycle of poverty by providing necessary services for the children and their immediate relatives.

During the program, to further strengthen the awareness of the parents, partners, and stakeholders on the local law on child labor prevention, DOLE Batangas CLPEP Focal Person, Ms. April Magpantay, also conducted a learning session about Republic Act No. 9231.

As a seal of their commitment to end child labor in their families, parents pledged the Panatang Makabata, declaring their vow to protect the rights of their child against hazardous work and anything that hampers their child's holistic development.#