Caraga: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga) said that protection, assistance, and capacity-building programs supported child laborers and persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in the region in 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, support for child laborers remained a priority of the agency through the Strategic Helpdesk for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) Against Child Labor Program. Last year, 101 former child laborers, comprising 74 boys and 27 girls, received educational assistance worth PHP505,000.

Four local government units (LGUs) also adopted the SHIELD program last year-Surigao City, the towns of San Jose and Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands, and the municipality of Lianga in Surigao del Sur. "Young people and vulnerable families faced many challenges in 2025, but the Sectoral Unit was able to deliver because of the hard work of the team and the continued cooperation of our partners at the local level," Melanie Juan, the head of the DSWD-13's Protective Services Division - Sectoral Unit, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Also, in the same year, 224 PLHIVs, consisting of 189 men and 35 women, received interventions from the DSWD-13 through financial assistance amounting to PHP869,789.20. In addition, the agency hosted youth and community employment activities through the Government Internship Program, supporting 75 beneficiaries with 30-day internships and disbursing PHP590,625.

Immersion outreach programs were also implemented in various communities, serving 75 beneficiaries who completed 30-day community works, earning a total of PHP734,062.50 in wages. To ensure effective protection law implementation, the Sectoral Unit conducted spot checks in LGUs to monitor compliance with Republic Act 11861, or the Expanded Solo Parent Welfare Act, and assess the SHIELD program.

Source: Philippines News Agency