NEGROS Occidental – Parents and guardians of identified child laborers in Negros Occidental’s three barangays received a total of P1,798,385 livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 6 through the Negros Occidental Field Office (NOFO).
The livelihood assistance is intended for the enhancement of commodity or “sari-sari” stores serving 117 families in Barangays Mandalagan and Handumanan in Bacolod City, and 35 families in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City.
The fund was released through the Christian Advocates for Justice and Development in Negros Occidental (CAJDEN), Inc., a non-governmental organization that advocates campaign against child labor.
“One of the missions of our organization, along with the provision of educational assistance to children and promotion of the rights of the children, is providing livelihood projects to parents of child laborers in partnership with DOLE,” said CAJDEN Executive Director Ma. Lina M. Ganaba.
DOLE-6 Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao stressed that the project further aims to end the engagement of minor children in hazardous work by improving the source of income of their parents and guardians.
The assistance will be used to purchase products for sari-sari stores, such as coffee and chocolate powder drink, packed biscuits and noodles, canned sardines, rice, cooking oil, and eggs.
CAJDEN will also provide the beneficiaries with trainings on entrepreneurship, accounting, financial management and control, credit management and self-awareness.
“This is one of the successful results of our referrals of profiled child laborers in 2019. Their parents are our target-beneficiaries under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP),” said DOLE NOFO head Mary Agnes N. Capigon. (PIA)
