DOLE 9 Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe personally handed the starter kits, composed of cooking tools and jigs, to each beneficiary worth 20,000 pesos during the turn-over ceremony at the DOLE 9 Office in Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.
Director Buenafe said that the beneficiaries were identified thru the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) where profiling was done in various areas with reported cases of child labor.
Once profiled, DOLE assesses the children and their families’ needs for referral to appropriate agencies and organizations for the provision of necessary assistance to remove them from child labor.
“The CLPEP is an integral part of a much bigger initiative called the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) which works to transform the lives of child laborers, their families, and communities towards their sense of self-worth, empowerment and development,” Director Buenafe added.
Sangali Barangay Captain Daud T. Bakil expressed his gratitude to the DOLE and his commitment to likewise assist in project monitoring for its sustainability.
“Quiere kame rindi gracias con el Department of Labor and Employment por el Kit. Grande ayuda este para na di amon buska la vida”, (We would like to thank DOLE for the starter kits. This will help us a great deal in starting our livelihood),” expressed one parent-beneficiary.
In conclusion, Director Buenafe encouraged the parent-beneficiaries to make good use of the assistance in order to uplift their present state and in such manner, their children will not leave school for work. He further stressed the need of education and it being the key to success. END / With reports from Ma. Eloina S. Idris, Sr. LEO, ZCFO