Parents of child laborers get livelihood aid from DOLE XII

KORONADAL, South Cotabato, July 15 (PIA) – Thirty-eight individuals in nearby Tantangan municipality recently received livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in line with the government effort to address child labor concerns.

DOLE 12 Regional Director Raymundo Agravante and DOLE-South Cotabato Field Office Director Arlene Bisnon led the turn-over ceremony of livelihood starter kits to 38 parents of child laborers in Barangay Bukay Pait on July 14.

The livelihood aid released to Barangay Bukay-Pait residents through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) amounted to P529,558.

Beneficiaries are parents or guardians of child laborers who DOLE 12 profiled in 2018.  A number of these minors worked in the farm as planter and charcoal makers. Others were laborer and furniture makers.

With the livelihood starter kits, parents are expected to augment their income and prevent their children from exploitative labor conditions.

Kits distributed were that of the entrepreneurial and income generating projects  chosen by the beneficiaries,  These include hollow blocks and furniture making, barbecue and balut vending, carwash, carpentry, vulcanizing, welding, dressmaking, hair care, kakanin production, and vegetable gardening.

“I’m grateful that DOLE livelihood assistance reaches us for it will augment our daily income,” Jenny, one of the beneficiaries, said.

“We are happy that this assistance will help a different vulnerable sector in our community, the parents of child laborer, to start a small business and to become an entrepreneur in their respective communities,” Director Agravante said.

The ceremony was witnessed by Tantangan Mayor Benjamin Figueroa, Jr. and Bukay Pait Chairperson Pedro Rufino Jr.

DILP is a flagship program of the DOLE which seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers either through emergency employment, promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises. (CDGamboa/OMSaltiga- DOLE 12/DED-PIA XII)