Davao del Norte – The Department of Labor and Employment Davao Region celebrated Christmas with 800 child laborers and their families. With the theme “Sa DOLE XI tuloy ang Ligaya at Liwanag ng Pasko sa ating mga batang manggagawa”, a gift giving activity was conducted for the period of November to December 2020 through Project Angel Tree under DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).

DOLE CLPEP’s Project Angel Tree allows benefactors, donors, and sponsors, referred to as Angels, to assist the profiled child laborers and their families with food, clothing, educational assistance, school supplies and even training and employment opportunities to the parents of the child laborers.

In coordination with the LGUs, PESO, CSWD, MSWD and with the approval and compliance on the safety and health protocols by IATF, the team conducted eight batches of Project Angel Tree in 6 municipalities and 2 cities within Davao del Norte.

The beneficiaries which were profiled child laborers from 2018-2019 received various grocery items, school supplies, toys, vitamins, PPEs, & hygiene kits.

DOLE Davao Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo said, “DOLE Davao Region will not cease its efforts and strengthen its relationship with our stakeholders to further enhance our assistance to child laborers and their families and eventually, through this, we will eliminate the worst forms of child labor.”

DOLE Davao del Norte Chief Angelina A. Talingting also expressed her gratitude to all the individuals and private establishments who supported the said activity.