The Department of Labor and Employment XI welcomed the 2021 National Children’s Month (NCM) with a virtual kick-off celebration on November 3, 2021 through the initiative of Davao del Norte Field Office (DOLE-DNFO). Said event was in compliance with the new normal condition of tackling and educating Filipinos on children’s rights, parenting, and the concerns surrounding them.

This year’s theme “New Normal na Walang Iwanan: Karapatan ng Bawat Bata, Ating Tutukan” has been inspired by the dedication and efforts of various organizations that champion the rights of the Filipino children despite the challenges that confront them during this tough time.

Said virtual celebration started with the reading of the 12 Children’s Rights, presentation of the official 2021 Children’s Month banner, and the recitation of the Panatang Makabata. It was attended by 11 Local Government Units represented by Local Chief Executives, PESO Managers, Provincial, Municipal, and City Social Welfare and Development Offices, and Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) focal person from various offices. The organizers wore their “Stop Child Labor Now” shirts to promote the programs and efforts of DOLE XI to prevent and eliminate child labor in the region.

DOLE-DNFO Chief Angelina T. Talingting led the DOLE XI 2021 NCM Virtual Kick-off Celebration with CLPEP DNFO Focal Person Lalaine M. Apugan, Community Facilitator Dave Andrie A. Villegas, and CLPEP Regional Focal Person Eduardo M. Monreal.

OIC-Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy commended the organizers of the event and said that virtual events such as this is a significant contribution to the department’s goal of raising awareness and eliminating child labor.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, as the lead agency, said in a statement that this year’s celebration “aims to give attention to the difficulties experienced by children in the new normal setting such as concerns on their rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.”

The annual celebration of the NCM is provided for by Republic Act No. 10661. It also sought to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Nov. 20, 1989.