LILOY, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE– The DOLE Zamboanga del Norte Field Office (ZDNFO) through its Liloy Satellite Office in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducted an orientation and skills training to 26 Parents of Child Laborers in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte on June 29-30, 2023.

The opening program was held at the Legislative Building, Liloy, ZDN while the skills training was conducted in TESDA Training Center, Camp Site, Liloy, ZDN. Ms. Rizza Mae Yebes, a Community Facilitator under the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program, welcomed everyone and discussed that the training will be conducted to the parents and/or guardians of the profiled child laborers in the said municipality. The training will serve as an intervention to the parents or guardians so that they can manage their own livelihood, develop awareness, stop child labor practices and be able to bring back their children to school.

Mr. Francis A. Hatab, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer of the DOLE ZDNFO commended the beneficiaries who were profiled and became the participants of the skills training. He also emphasized the benefits of the said skills training. “Kani nga training makahatag ni ug dugang impormasyon ug idea para sa inyong pwede inegosyo (This skills training will give you additional information and skills which you can use to start a business),” he said. Mr. Hatab also expressed his gratitude to the Local Government Unit led by Municipal Mayor Hon. Roberto L. Uy, Jr. through the PESO Manager Mr. Reginaldo Eroy for the support.

During the opening activity, Ms. Maria Liza Lee, TESDA Trainer, discussed that she will be training the beneficiaries on Smoke Fish Processing. She shared that this product is popular and in demand in Luzon.
Ms. Regina Seriales, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to LGU, TESDA and DOLE. “Nagpasalamat mi ninyo na inyo ming gitagaan og hinabang sa among kinabuhi labi na karong panahuna sa among kalisod mao dako kaayo kong pasalamat nga usa ko sa naapil aning programa ninyo. (We are grateful to all of you for this assistance especially on these trying times. I am thankful that I am included on this program)”, she said.

Mr. Reginaldo Eroy, PESO Manager, who was present during the culmination, encouraged the beneficiaries to organize an association. He also hoped that these beneficiaries will start a livelihood venture where they can produce smoked fish which will become Liloy’s distinct product for pasalubong item. End/with reports from Joni Sarina R. Mejico and Florence Louie Eroy, DOLE-ZDNFO.