Daet, Camarines Norte—DSWD leads in the launching of the Strategic Helpdesk for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) project against child labor in Bicol together with three pilot municipalities last June 6, 2017 at Calaguas Gateway, Hotel.

DSWD Regional Dir. Arnel Garcia, Dir. Thelsa P. Biolena of DSWD Central Office, Jose Panganiban Mayor Ricarte Padilla, Paracale Mayor Lourdes Villamonte-Briguera and Labo Vice-Mayor Severino Francisco Jr. officially accepted the SHIELD project implementation by forging the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Subsequently, a planning session commenced in the afternoon.

Representatives from International Labor Organization (ILO), Ban Toxics and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) were also present to support the said project launch.

The SHIELD project aims to help eliminate child labor, particularly its worst forms and those in the blanket ban (below 15 years old). This project will utilize approaches and strategies through the its three components namely: Child Labor Local Registry (CLLR), Barangay Help Desk on Child Labor and Organizing, Advocacy, and Capacity Building.

According to Dir. Biolena, the pilot areas in the Philippines are in Region IV-A, V and VIII. Specifically, the pilot communities in Bicol include: Brgys. Malaya and Dalas in Labo, Brgys. Sta. Rosa Sur and Luklukan Sur in Jose Panganiban and Brgys. Palanas and Tawig in Paracale.

“Poverty is still the main reason for allowing children to engage in hazardous work. DSWD does not have the monopoly to address poverty, we need to involve everyone and converge with different agencies to uplift the lives of the poor,” Dir. Garcia said.

Participating LGUs shall adopt, establish and maintain Child Labor Local Registry System, Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (CLLR) and help desks; allocate funds to immediately provide necessary services to child laborers and their families. The LGUs will also provide other support services such as counseling, medical, crisis intervention and educational assistance while DSWD will monitor and allocate funds for the said implementation.

“This project is heaven sent. Malaking bagay po sa amin ang SHIELD project. Sisiguraduhin namin na hindi ito magiging ningas kugon sa bayan ng Jose Panganiban,” Mayor Padilla said.

Based on the Philippines Statistics Authority 2011 Survey on Children, 10.4% or 218,400 of the 2.1 million child laborers in the Philippines are in Region V.

“There is a need to support the Philippine Program against Child Labor 2017-2022 to withdraw one million children from child labor and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which calls to end child labor in all its forms by 2025,” Dir. Biolena said.

Dir. Garcia hopes that the LGUs adopt the project as their regular program by way of a local resolution/ordinance after the project pilot implementation closes.