MAKING FOOTPRINTS OF SUCCESS: TAAL SLIPPER MAKERS RECEIVE LIVELIHOOD AID THROUGH DOLE BATANGAS

For 20 years, making slippers and sandals has been the main source of income for the Garcia family from Barangay Luntal, Taal, Batangas.

However, despite their hardwork as parents, Ms. Evangeline admitted that her 14-year-old son was helping them produce more products to earn extra for their family.

“Nagtatahi po s’ya ng tsinelas para po pambaon,” Ms. Evangeline said. 

During the house-to-house profiling and monitoring of child laborers, the representatives of the Department of Labor and Employment IV-A Batangas Provincial Office noted the plight of the Garcia’s as well as the many other families in Luntal. With the goal of removing children from the worst forms of labor, the DOLE provided additional livelihood aid for the parents of these children during a  ceremonial release at the Taal Convention Center, Lipa City, Batangas, July 31.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa DOLE dahil malaking bagay po talaga itong binigay nila sa amin sa hirap po ng buhay,” Evangeline remarked.

Evangeline received additional supplies for her slipper-making business during a ceremonial turnover at the Taal Convention Center, on July 31. (Photo by April Magpantay)

Aside from the Garcia’s, the family of Ms. Iluminada Ramirez, a parent of another child laborer from Barangay Cawit, Taal, Batangas, also received a starter kit package for her snacks business.

Facing challenges, especially with the condition of her hands, Ms. Iluminada said that poverty pushed his son to be engaged in construction work. With gratitude, she expressed her appreciation for her new livelihood opportunity with the promise of making it flourish and withdrawing his son from the worst forms of labor.

“Marami pong salamat na binigyan po ako ng panimula. Pag-iingatan ko po na mapalago [ito],” she uttered.

No disability can hinder Iluminada from providing a better life for her children, this time, by starting a snacks business through the aid of a DOLE program for the parents of child laborers. (Photo by April Magpantay)

A total of 21 parents of child laborers received their livelihood kits during the release in Taal, Batangas. With these interventions, the Department hopes to continue eliminating child labor in their community and provide a brighter future for all the affected children.