Children are one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society. As such, when they are gravely threatened and endangered by circumstances which affect their survival and normal development, it is the duty of the local government unit to act and ensure the best interests of children in all actions concerning them.
Three years ago, Mayor Gerardo V. Calderon accepted the reality that there were child laborers in the municipality. It was the mayor’s principle that problems as serious as child labor incidence must not be ignored and ‘swept under the rug.’
“Problems should be accepted as facts and that the municipality in coordination and cooperation with concerned national agencies shall strategize to eradicate it,” Mayor Calderon said.
On December 10, 2013, the Local Government of Angono signed an agreement with the Department of Labor Employment and the Department of the Interior and Local Government formalizing their partnership to support and implement the campaign for a Child Labor Free Municipality.
The agreement enabled Angono to prioritize the program, strengthen local councils for the protection of children and formulate plans, programs and projects to achieve the goal of the agreements.
On August 27, 2014, the 10 barangays represented by their respective Chairpersons and Secretaries were oriented on how to manage, reduce and eventually eradicate child labor Incidence.
Three years later, on August 22, 2016, Honorable Mayor Gerardo V. Calderon received the trophy and certificate recognizing Angono as the first Child Labor Free Municipality nationwide.
Grassroots participation
The award, which was given by Rizal DOLE officer-in-charge Marivic Martinez, recognizes the municipality’s community-bound child labor program Philippine Program Against Child Labor, which was accomplished because of the efforts of all barangay captains in contributing steps to protect children.
Angono’s child labor free strategy hinges on Mayor Calderon’s marching order that no one should be left behind (“Walang Iwanan”) and “Bawat Bahay, May Naghahanap-buhay.”
Milestones and protocols serving as proofs on handling the issue of child labor include databasing or numerous validations to identify child laborers; enactment of Sangguniang Bryan Ordinance No. 14-685 or the Children’s Code of Angono; enacting a line item budget for Child Labor Free Program under the annual budget for 2015; trimming down of the number of identified child workers to 145 households after honest to goodness validation, especially in the areas of Barangay Mahabang Pariang, Kalayaan and San Vicente; and implementing poverty reduction programs with the help of Parent-Teachers Association, Department of Education, Philippine National Police, Department of Social Work and Development, 4Ps beneficiaries and other members of the informal sector.
The Public Employment Service Office, which was the focal agency of the project, aimed at a 120% rate of success in improving the quality of life of 175 households; 145 of which are home to the community’s actual child laborers.
PATAMABA-WISE was identified as an accredited co-partner due to its excellent track record in implementing poverty reduction programs for poor and vulnerable sectors.
On June 18, 2014 coinciding with the World Child Labor Free Day, a Help Me Caravan was conducted in Barangay Mahabang Parang, where the highest reported cases of child labor. The DSWD Calabarzon provided 500 parents and child laborers/workers with food packs, slippers, school bags, and educational assistance for some child laborers.
On December 13, 2014, through DOLE’s P750,000 grant, provided raw materials and equipment and tools to start up livelihood projects for barangay Kalayaan and Mahabang Paring. The identified projects were doormat and rag making and production of homecare products. These projects augmented the income of parents of identified child laborers to lessen cases of child labor in the municipality of Angono.
In essence, Angono is now a child labor free municipality because the problem has been identified, tracked down, and interventions are in progress; critical indicators were also achieved like the establishment of Local Councils for the Protection of Children which is organized, functional, and active; no child below 18 years is engaged in the worst forms of child labor;
The parents of child workers, who were identified before, signed a document of commitment not to allow their kids to work and send them back to school; child labor incidence reports are immediately acted on and resolved; and child labor issues and concerns are mainstreamed in local development plans.
The municipality’s effort to eradicate child labor and promote the welfare of children, therefore, enhance the opportunities of children as well as their families for a useful and happy life.
Caption: The award, which was given by Rizal DOLE officer-in-charge Marivic Martinez, recognizes the municipality’s community-bound child labor program Philippine Program Against Child Labor, which was accomplished because of the efforts of all barangay captains in contributing steps to protect children.