“The DOLE is happy to join hands with Nakayama Technology Corporation in taking firm and committed action to promote and carry out the DOLE’s child labor-free barangay campaign in Davao del Sur,” said Baldoz during a visit to the company’s Digos City offices where she signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a child labor prevention and elimination program with company officials led by President Yoshimi Nakayama and Executive Vice President Akihiru Ushimaru.

“I commend your company for this highest exercise of corporate responsibility,” she added.

Baldoz signed the MOU for the DOLE, with Undersecretary Lourdes M. Trasmonte and Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao  as witnesses.

Nakayama Technology Corporation, established in August 1990, was begun as merely an exterior painting firm. Today, it has emerged as a global manufacturer and exporter of insulated exterior wall panels, and has branched out with a computer graphics center manned by 150 graphics designers from all over the country. It has also established a siding board factory in Digos City. The factory turns out brick tiles using local materials available in Mindanao and exported to Japan.

Under the MOU, Nakayama Technology Corporation, through its Corporate Social Responsibility program, commits to extend its support to the DOLE’s Project Angel Tree by making this as one of its regular CSR programs.

“Through Project Angel Tree, Nakayama Technology Corporation will provide educational supplies, through the DOLE Davao Del Sur Field Office, for child laborers/beneficiaries in priority barangays in Davao del Sur,” said Mr. Nakayama during the signing of the MOU.

Project Angel Tree is an intervention program aimed at preventing children from being engaged as child laborers by giving them the opportunity to attend or go back to school. Under the project, child laborers are provided with school supplies.

“The provision of educational supplies to the children may be just one of the many simple steps that we do, but it will help children build a better future for themselves,” said Baldoz who, together with Mr. Nakayama, Mr. Ushimaru, Usec. Trasmonte, and Director Suyao, presided over the awarding of bags and educational supplies to 75 child laborers and children at risk from Barangay Pasig, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur after the MOU signing.

Brgy. Pasig is one of the barangays in Region 11 targeted by the DOLE to be declared child-labor free at the end of the year. The other barangays are Kibuaya in in the Municipality of Hagonoy; and Brgys. 5-A (Poblacion), Bankerohan, Matina Pangi, and New Carmen in Davao City.

The DOLE’s Child Labor-Free Barangay Campaign is in pursuit of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Social Contract with the Filipino People, as stated in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 and its accompanying document, the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016, to strengthen measures against child labor and exploitation and prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labor through strategic partnerships, intensified advocacy and action at all levels, and improving access to quality and integrated services.

During her visit to Digos City, Baldoz also toured the Bagsakan Center, a livelihood initiative of 270 parents of child laborers in Barangay Kibuaya who had received P389,500 in livelihood assistance through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program last May.