Bacolod: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has teamed up with three non-government organizations (NGOs) to enhance efforts aimed at preventing and eliminating child labor in Negros Occidental as part of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labor observance.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE-Western Visayas Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. formalized partnerships with Ilog Kinderhome Foundation Inc. executive director Gilda Cadagat, Christian Advocates for Justice and Development-Negros (CAJDEN) Inc. executive director Lina Ganaba, and Sugar Industry Foundation Inc. (SIFI) president and chief operating officer Edith Villanueva. The agreement focuses on developing and implementing a community-based capacity building and advocacy campaign targeting child labor prevention and elimination.
The involved parties pledged to uphold the rights of Negrense children, ensuring their safety and empowerment, regardless of age, culture, gender, language, religious belief, physical, and mental disability. They also vowed to support DOLE's child labor prevention and elimination program and related government initiatives under the Philippine Program Against Child Labor Convergence, which advocates for zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation.
During the event, Angela Gido, a 20-year-old former child laborer, shared her story of overcoming dangerous jobs with the help of DOLE's partnership with CAJDEN. Her mother, Emilyn, received livelihood assistance from DOLE, allowing her to establish a sari-sari store with rice retailing. This support enabled Angela to pursue her education with dignity, earning her allowance by selling handmade flower bouquets as a sophomore Office Administration student at Bacolod City College.
Angela, who began working at 13 to support her family, represented child laborers from the Philippines at a global conference in Rwanda at age 17. There, she contributed to the Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform. She noted that many child laborers and working children have since graduated and now work in various sectors, including corporate, government, tourism, and media, thanks to support from CAJDEN and DOLE.
This year's theme for the World Day Against Child Labor in the Philippines is 'Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Mag-aaral ang Bata, Hindi Manggagawa (Under the New Philippines: Children will Study, Not Toil)!'
