DAVAO CITY–A press conference and awareness raising on Child Labor through “KAPIHAN SA PIA” was conducted by DOLE RXI and the Child Labor Education Task Force (CLETF) as part of the “kick-off” activity for the 2010 World Day Against Child Labor Celebration on June 11, 2010.

Marlito Ayala, focal person of Child Labor Program of DOLE RXI together with the Child Labor Education Task Force (CLETF) whose membership includes, CHED, DepEd, DILG, CSSDO, WORLD VISION and other civil organization with a common goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labor by 2016, called a press conference through PIA which was attended by various local media representatives. The advocacy for anti-Child Labor campaign will have a greater impact if the media people from print, radio, and television will help spread the awareness campaign.

After the press conference at PIA, The Child labor education task force had an awareness-raising and advocacy on child labor to the parents of child laborers in Bunawan District, Davao City. The forum was attended by more than a hundred of parents of students of Felepe Calderon Elementary School where most of the child laborers are schooling through special arrangement by DepEd. The principal of Calderon elementary school, Mrs. Nena Laurente, a member of the CLETF, help organize the afternoon activity where the DOLE livelihood programs also presented during the forum for them to have an alternative source of livelihood and will gradually allow their kids to have more time on school and cease doing work at an early age.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labor in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on June 12, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlights the plight of child laborers and what can be done to help them.