DOLE to start school project for child workers

MANILA, Philippines - A four-year school project for child workers will highlight the Philippines' observance of this year's World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL), the Labor Department said Thursday. Labor secretary Marianito Roque said the government will implement the program particularly in areas where there is high incidence of child labor. "Educating the children while providing their parents with income sources are the long-term solutions seen to break the bondage of poverty that ties child workers and their families to the cycle of child labor," Roque said. A statement on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) website www.dole.gov.ph said the project would be implemented in areas where there is high incidence of child labor. The school project will cover Metro Manila, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Leyte, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley. Roque said the government will formalize the program Friday by signing an agreement with the World Vision Development Foundation (WDF) and the Christian Children's Fund (CCF) "to celebrate the WDACL and provide for the implementation of the project that would give child workers access to educational opportunities." He said representatives of the DOLE, WDF, CCF, and other social partners in the national drive against child labor would gather at the Bulacan State University (BSU) in Malolos, Bulacan to mark WDACL. The DOLE, WDF, and CCF representatives will sign the memorandum of agreement on the ABK2 project during the celebration, he said. Roque said the theme of the celebration, "Education is the right response to child labor," underscores the importance of education as a major strategy in preventing and eliminating child labor. While WDACL is commemorated around the world every June 12 since 2002, the Philippines will celebrate it June 13 this year, in deference of the country's Independence Day. Dubbed ABK2 (Pag-aaral ng mga Bata Para sa Kinabukasan) or TEACh (Take Every Action for Children), the project will be implemented with grants from the United States Department of Labor. The program was launched at the DOLE in Intramuros, Manila last February with US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney in attendance. - GMANews.TV