Negros Oriental LGUs commit to reduce child labor in sugarcane areas
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 17 (PIA) -- Five local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental are committed to support World Vision's Pag-aaral ng Bata para sa Kinabukasan - Livelihood, Education, Advocacy and Protection (ABK3-LEAP) program to reduce the 1,990 child laborers identified working in sugarcane plantations in the province.
According to ABK 3 project director Daphne Culanag 18 barangays from the municipalities of Mabinay, Manjuyod, Sta. Catalina, Siaton and Tanjay City will receive the assistance over a period of four years providing direct education and support services for children aged 5 to 17-years-old in the sugarcane areas.
In a stakeholders’ consultation workshop, the LGUs pledged to strengthen and make the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) functional to promote children’s rights and programs.
The LGUs will also provide technical assistance on organic farming and skill enhancement for sustainable livelihood and employment for parents and the youths.
Culanag said the workshop recently held described the strategies of interventions from LGUs to reduce incidence of child labor and improve the socio-economic well-being of assisted families.
Focus barangays for ABK3 include Abis, Bagtic, Pantao and Tara in Mabinay; Alangilan, Maaslum and Mandalupang of Manjuyod; Canaway, Casalaan, Napacao and Tayak in Siaton town.
Sta. Catalina’s beneficiaries include Caranoche, Kabulakan, Obat and Poblacion; and barangays Pal-ew, San Miguel, Sta. Cruz Nuevo of Tanjay City.
Culanag said removing child laborers from their source of earning is a tall order but a challenging one.
"Education is the only way out of poverty. I believe the government is doing its job but we must not expect it to do all. Communities must own the problem and help themselves too,” he added.
ABK3-LEAP project aims to assist 52,000 children and 25,000 families across 11 provinces in the country namely; Batangas, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu Leyte, Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.
These provinces were selected on the basis of sugarcane production, poverty incidence, size of rural population and education averages in terms of enrolment rate, dropouts and classroom size, said Culanag. (MBCN/JCT-PIA7 Negros Oriental)