DOLE, ILO launch child labor-free Phl campaign

By Precie Catherine C. Cuarto

Thursday 28th of June 2012

QUEZON CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- Child labor is the biggest human rights issue that affects around 215 million children around the globe.

During the launch of the “Batang Malaya: Child Labor Free Philippines” campaign on June 26, US Ambassador Harry Thomas said there is need to break the cycle of poverty as this is the root cause of child labor.

Among those present in the launching were representatives of government agencies and civil society organizations. United States Embassy’s political officer Pamela Pontius delivered Ambassador Harry Thomas’s message of support to the International Labor Organization.

President Benigno Aquino III, in a message read for him by Labor secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, spoke about government strategies to scale up the implementation of the Philippine Program Against Child Labor. The strategies include integrated livelihood programs and “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” of the Labor department, Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education and free health care services of the Department of Health in local government units.

“In light of good governance, we will together ensure that no Filipino youth is left confined in the darkness of poverty. It’s time to let each 'Berto' and 'Nena' enjoy the right to live a free, happy and healthy childhood,” said President Aquino.

Thomas also urges everyone to join the ILO’s campaign to end the worst forms of child labor, which includes child trafficking, by 2016.

National Statistics Office administrator Carmelita Ericta presented the result of the 2011 survey on children (SOC) which reflected that the number of Filipino children engaged in employment has grown to 5.49 million. Of which, 44.9 percent or 2.46 million children are working in permissible job condition, while 55.1 percent or 3.03 million children are considered under unacceptable child labor.

Ericta said those children aged five to 17 years old that were reported working in hazardous occupations, for long hours or at night, or both, were considered child laborers prone to either chemical, physical or biological hazards.

Mayor Robert Eusebio welcomed the participants at Fun Ranch in Pasig City at around 6 a.m. to kick off an advocacy march.

On each pit stop, children wore statement shirts that read, “Malayang Maglaro,” “Malayang Mag-aral,” and “Malayang Maging Malusog,” to symbolically allow them to play, study and be healthy.

Child stars Makisig and Maliksi Morales, 2010 Miss Universe Philippines Venus Raj, television host Andrei Felix and Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 3 and Teen Azkals celebrities also joined the march. (PCCC-PIA GHQ)