PRIVATE SECTOR, GOV’T TEAM UP FOR WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR, SPEARHEAD PROJECT ANGEL TREE, INFORMATION DRIVE IN BATANGAS

To share in the realization of the 2024 theme “Bawat Bata, Malaya: Mithiin ng Nagkakaisang Bansa,” the Department of Labor and Employment - Batangas Provincial Office (DOLE BPO), in collaboration with the Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc. and their service providers, organized the Project Angel Tree for the benefit of the child laborers and their families in Tanauan City, Batangas, on June 26.

Various sponsors led by Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc. provided goods and items for the benefit of the child laborers and their families. (Photo by Leomar De Torres)

During the ceremony, Director Predelma Tan of DOLE BPO emphasized the importance of the partnership between the private sector, local government units, and the Department in accomplishing the international goal of eliminating child labor.

Director Tan graced the activity and shared the rationale of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program of DOLE. (Photo by Leomar De Torres)

“Today, we are so blessed because we are giving away so many gifts and surprises for all of you, courtesy of course, of our generous partners…As much as possible we try but the Department of Labor and Employment cannot provide all the interventions you requested [referring to families of child laborers] but, we have generous sponsors that can provide those assistance for the families [of child laborers]. And one of those is through the Project Angel Tree na ginaganap natin today,” she uttered.

For the private sector, Mr. Mitsuki Notsu of Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc. also shared a message on the impact of the program not just for a day or two but for the coming years ahead with the hope of creating a brighter future for the children and their families.

Mr. Notsu delivered a message of support for the program of the DOLE in preventing and eliminating. (Photo by April Magpantay)

More than a hundred children and their parents or guardians received different gifts composed of groceries, tumblers, rice packs, and other items provided by different sponsors. They also received meals from the Department during the duration of the program.

Another highlight of the program involved the turnover of negokarts to the three families of child laborers. Aside from the cart with a bicycle, the packaged included an initial supply of fishballs, kikiams, and other frozen items, a tank of gas, and cooking materials.

Full of gratitude, Ms. Anabel David a mother of a child laborer who is engaged in the selling of candles shared a message of thanks to the Department and its partners for their continuous initiatives in bringing not only joy but assistance in the form of gift packs and livelihood package that can aid their everyday needs.

Ms. David and her child received not only packs of groceries and gifts but also a livelihood package from the sponsors. (Photo by Leomar De Torres)

“Kami po’y lubos na nagpapasalamat po. Sa hirap po ng buhay, sana po ay marami pa kayong matulungan,” Ms. Anabel remarked.

Aside from the gift-giving activity, DOLE Batangas CLPEP Focal Person, Ms. April Rose Magpantay also shed light on the salient features of Republic Act No. 9231. Meanwhile, DOLE representatives also distributed flyers containing these facts to disseminate to a wider audience, the laws that protect children from the worst forms of labor.

Beneficiaries from various barangays of Tanauan City attended the Project Angel Tree as part of the World Day Against Child Labor celebration. (Photo by April Magpantay)

In the future, Director Tan hopes for a stronger collaboration with different partners of the program to afford the sustainability of the assistance not only in Tanauan City but also in other parts of the province of Batangas.