Davao del Norte – In celebration of the 2021 World Day Against Child Labor, the Department of Labor and Employment XI, through its Davao del Norte Field Office (DNFO), spearheaded the ‘Children’s Community Pantry Caravan-Tatlong Araw DavNor Lakbay Para sa Batang Malaya’ in the province of Davao del Norte.

On June 28-30, 2021, the DOLE-DNFO Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program team, led by Ms. Lalaine M. Apugan, was able to distribute food and grocery packs, vitamins, hygiene kits, toys, shoes, and school supplies to 300 profiled child laborers from the eight (8) municipalities and three (3) component cities of the province. Said activity was in partnership with the Public Service Employment Offices and Municipal and City Social Welfare and Development Offices.

DNFO Chief Angelina A. Talingting expressed her gratitude to the reliable partners and generous sponsors of the activity. “We are thankful to them for sharing with us their bountiful blessings and for choosing us to be their partner NGA in providing valuable care to our profiled child laborers amidst the pandemic.”

“Despite the overwhelming consequences of the pandemic, this crisis has become an avenue for us to continuously strengthen and sustain our efforts to prevent and eliminate child labor across Davao Region,” said DOLE XI OIC-Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy. This year’s Philippine celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor, with the theme “Makibahagi, Makialam, Magkaisa Para sa Batang Malaya,” was challenging due to the strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Other activities were conducted through social media like the TikTok Pangbata Contest and online advocacy campaigns.