The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office XI initiated the success of three simultaneous activities that highlighted the campaign on Child Labor Free Barangay in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Hagonoy.

Barangay Kibuaya is about a five kilometer rough ride from the center of Hagonoy town. Barangay Captain Virginia Tobiano  admitted that prior to the intervention of various support groups, children were being hired as laborers during sugarcane harvest.

To address the problem of child labor , the department extended its assistance  to help the  child laborers and their parents . In most cases, poverty and the lack of alternative means of livelihood have forced them to these conditions.

On May 18, the DOLE team led by Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao; Assistant Regional Director Venerando C. Cebrano; and Provincial Chief Dalidig Mawi graced the launching of the campaign for child labor free barangays, provision of educational supplies to 50 child laborers under the  Angel Tree Project  and the opening of the Bagsakan ng Barangay, a project of  the 270 parents of child laborers.

An amount of P389,500 was released for the  livelihood project under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program Toward Community Enterprise Development (DILP-CED), is a P389, 500.00.

“It is our right as children to get good education and be allowed to play. If we do not experience this as a child,  we have not fully enjoyed our childhood.” ARD Cebrano on his message during the program. He added that parents must also see that these rights are fulfilled.

Regional Director Suyao, underscored the efforts of the department  in nurturing an enabling environment for today’s children. He said, “You (children) are the future lawmakers, engineers, and teachers. To the parents, we must work together in the promotion of Child Labor Free Barangays. We hope that this advocacy campaign does not end in Barangay Kibuaya. Let us exemplify this program for others to follow.”