The End of Child Labour:
Together we can do it!
Five years after it was first observed in the Philippines, World Day Against Child Labour 2006, which
coincided with the national Independence Day celebration, was marked with meaningful events throughout
the country.
'Drum-beating' activities started in May. One City
Council issued a Resolution declaring its support to the
WDACL, while another local government unit even
scheduled a variety of anti-child labor activities for the
whole month of June. The wide range of events that
marked WDACL 2006 included street marches staged
simultaneously in three major cities and joined by former
child laborers and program partners, a symposium on
institutionalizing local Committees for the Protection of
Children, a seminar on the ILO Global Report on Child
Labor, a three-day radio program on child labor-related
issues and challenges, the formation of a group
of "community watchdogs" against child labor,
the launching of a child labor database system,
and a dialog with media practitioners on child
labor, among other activities.
Preparatory activities. A briefing session was conducted on 15 May 2006 on the ILO
Global Report Report for the official Philippine Delegation to the 2006 International Labour
Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The Philippine delegation consisted of the heads and
senior officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines (TUCP), and the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).
To drumbeat the celebration of the 5th WDACL, an ILO-IPEC booth was set up at the Manila
Hotel in connection with the 2006 National Conference of Employers (NCE) held on 22-23 May
2006. Flyers on child labor, as well as promotional and IEC (information, education and
communication) materials on planned activities to celebrate WDACL 2006 were distributed to the
public. One of the crowd-drawing attractions of the IPEC display area was the video showing of
the ILO-UNICEF child labor documentary series.
Symposium. Also on 12 June, Philippine affiliates of the International Textile, Garments and
Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) were joined by representatives of local government units
(LGUs) and community organizations (COs) at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City at a
symposium to discuss policies and guidelines in forming Councils for the Protection of Children
(CPC) at the local level (city/ municipality and barangay), in addition to the Provincial CPCs. ILOIPEC
joined a panel of resource speakers from government, NGOs, civil society and workers’ unions.
At the same time, former child laborers and children of ITGLWF members had a separate
venue for their "time to play" (activities included face painting, group games, etc.). Other highlights
were a cultural presentation, display of products made by partner community organizations, and
writing of solidarity messages on a giant "freedom wall."
Month-long event. This year, the "Flavor of the Month" project of the Provincial Government of
Bulacan (a TBP project area) chose to focus on child labor for its theme. Thus, throughout the whole
month of June, various public awareness and anti-child labor advocacy activities were conducted.
These included the "text messaging" project for electronic information dissemination and reporting of
child labor cases to authorities through mobile phones, and the conduct of child labor orientation
workshop sessions throughout the province.
Further, an initial 20 child laborers and their families were
provided direct services through livelihood and educational
assistance by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office
(PSWDO) and the Provincial Committee on Child Labor (PCCL).
A ceremonial commitment signing by the PCCL members and
other partner organizations, witnessed by Bulacan government
officials led by Provincial Governor Josefina dela Cruz highlighted
the launching rites, and was capped by a motorcade around major
streets in Malolos City.
Working with media. On 13 June, a media
summit was held at the Hiyas Convention Center
in Malolos City to brief local media practitioners
on child labor, and what the local government and
other non-government organizations are doing to
address the problem. On the same occasion, ILOIPEC
presented the ILO Global Report on Child
Labor.
Orientation workshops. Communities in
114 barangays (villages) in the 22 towns and two
cities of the Province of Bulacan were oriented on
the problem of child labor.
Four worst forms of child labor had been prioritized in this province – pyrotechnics
production, commercial sexual exploitation, child domestic labor, and small-scale mining and
quarrying. Not only were the families of child laborers involved, but the local government officials
as well – to drive the message across that child labor is a complex problem that has to be
addressed on all fronts. At the helm of the orientation sessions was the Bulacan Provincial
Social Welfare and Development Office.
Seminar on the ILO Global Report. On 14 June, ILO-IPEC organized a "Seminar on the
2nd ILO Global Report on Child Labor," which was participated in by members of the National Child
Labor Committee, tripartite social partners, action program implementers, and other social
development actors. The seminar was a venue to reflect on the findings of the Global Report, as
well as to share ideas on what still needs to be done to achieve the goal of eradicating child labor,
especially its worst forms.
In her welcome message, ILO-SRO Manila Director
Linda Wirth urged the stakeholders to "keep investing in the
struggle for the right of every child to their childhood."
Resource persons from the country’s largest labor
confederation (TUCP) and leading employers’ organization
(ECOP) presented their respective anti-child labor initiatives,
while milestones of the National Program Against Child Labor
and the ILO-IPEC TBP Support Project were also reported.
During the open forum, the need to institutionalize child
labor concerns in government programs and policies was
emphasized, if the gains achieved so far are expected to be
brought forward. The sustainability factor was another topic
that figured prominently in the plenary discussions.
3-day radio program on child labor. Radio Station DXGN-FM of the Bishop Thibault
Media Center (BTMC) in Davao City (another TBP project area), organized a two-hour radio
program focusing on current child labor issues on 8, 9 and 12 June 2006. At 7 a.m. on 8 June, the
program focused on discussions and public interaction related to the Global Report Against Child
Labor, through phoned-in questions from listeners. The morning radio program was anchored by
Station Manager Jose Neri Alminaza, while the ILO-IPEC Field Coordinator in Davao was the main
resource person.
Anti-child labor infomercials aired. During the segment breaks, the DXGN-produced
anti-child labor infomercials were aired. These infomercials had been produced in connection with
the ILO/IPEC-assisted advocacy action program of the local radio station.
On Day 2 – 9 June, aside from ILO-IPEC, the other resource person was Dr. Gloria Labor,
Davao City Schools Division Superintendent and Chairperson of the City Child Labor Education
Task Force (CLETF).
During the program, Dr. Labor announced the city
government’s scholarship program for 100 deserving child
laborers. The Department of Education official urged parents
to allow their children to finish their education to break away
from the so-called poverty trap. Parents and child laborers
alike were encouraged to avail of the scholarship program
initiated by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
On Day 3 – 12 June, the first hour was devoted to
answering phoned-in questions on child labor issues and
concerns. On hand to provide answers and other insights were
Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director
Lourdes Trasmonte, and ILO-IPEC. As in the previous days,
the anti-child labor infomercials were also aired during breaks.
The second hour focused on ILO-IPEC’s program for
Children in Armed Conflict. Kali Dimalen, who heads the
country program, discussed the objectives of the program and
the challenges faced in providing services to the target
beneficiaries. The radio program effectively gained a
significant listenership because it was conducted in the local
dialect.
Child labor database launched. The Child
Labor Integrated Database System is being piloted
under the ILO/IPEC-supported labor inspection
project of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE)-Region VII. It was launched on 9 June at the
Session Hall of the Capitol Legislative Building in
Cebu City (another TBP area).
Prior to the launching, Mr. Abhik Ghosh of ILOSRO
Manila, presented the major findings of the ILO
Global Report on Child Labor. In response, Cebu
Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez echoed ILO’s call
to eliminate child labor to ensure that today’s
children become productive members of society in
the future.
The ceremonial launching, co-sponsored by
the Cebu Provincial Government, culminated with
the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)
among DOLE officials and institutional stakeholders
to share information on child labor. The MoA
provides for the voluntary sharing of all child labor
data and related information to plan and design
intervention assistance, and monitoring and
evaluation as input for policy formulation and
decision-making.
The Regional Child Labor Committee
convened right after the launching rites to discuss
the contents of the child labor database system.
Unions join WDACL 2006. Later on the
same day (9 June), the Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines (TUCP) and its affiliates mounted a
program to commemorate WDACL 2006 in
Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. The TUCP is the
Philippines’ largest labor confederation, with
members across industries that include the
informal sector and overseas Filipino workers.
Kiddie radio show. Another related event in
Cebu was a two-hour radio show for children that aired
on 17 June. The program hosts were children who were
trained by an NGO partner. "Kaabag sa Sugbo" was
broadcast from over Station DYLA-AM and had guests
from various NGOs and city government officials. ILOIPEC
was a resource person in this show, as well as in
two other separate radio programs that followed
Motorcade and covenant signing. On 16 June, a motorcade around the major streets in
Daet, Camarines Norte (another TBP area) was spearheaded by PBN-Station DZMD, a program
implementer. The motorcade was joined by over 100 participants from nine barangays, four local
government units, the Philippine Army and National Police, the Camarines Norte Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, and media volunteers, among others.
High visibility through the media. At least 20 cars and over 40 motorbikes bore placards
and streamers that supported the fight against child labor. Leading the group were members of a
newly-formed "community watchdog" (Tanggol Bata Media Advocacy Group) – media
practitioners that gathered together to raise awareness against the negative consequences of
child labor, and mobilize public support to help sustain efforts toward eradicating the problem.
The program at a local restaurant that followed the motorcade was highlighted by the
signing of a covenant to stamp out child labor in the province. The ceremonial signing was led by
Governor Jesus Typoco.
The motorcade and covenant signing were broadcast live simultaneously via radio and
television in Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Albay, Legaspi City, and Naga City
through the broadcast facilities of PBN Broadcasting Network.
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