By John Rey Saavedra
In Cebu City, a total of PHP3.5 million worth of livelihood assistance, including materials, tools, and equipment, was provided to 139 parents of identified child laborers in the village of Tisa, known as the siomai capital. According to Lilia Estillore, director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 in Central Visayas, the beneficiaries are now equipped to begin their livelihood projects, each receiving aid of up to PHP29,000. These family beneficiaries have the opportunity to start their own businesses, including selling various frozen food products such as siomai, street food, puto, rice retailing, and engaging in buy-and-sell of ukay-ukay.
The local government of Tisa, being the DOLE-7’s accredited co-partner, will monitor the development and sustainability of the businesses of their constituents.
“This initiative is in line with the DOLE’s advocacy of addressing the incidence of child labor in the country and the region in particular,” Estillore said.
By providing parents or guardians of child laborers with livelihood assistance, every child is assured of protection against child labor.
“Through this program, we are hopeful that we can help provide and promote sustainable livelihood as a tool to combat child labor,” she added. (PNA)
