Education key to end child labor in NegOr

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 13 (PIA) — Education is still the best way to combat child labor.

This was emphasized during the celebration of 2013 World Day Against Child Labor, held June 12 at the Robinson’s Dumaguete.

Education Specialist Nick Arcilla disclosed that most children don’t go to school because they chose to work to meet their families’ needs.

“Our advocacy is to increase the enrollment and lessen the absences and dropping outs of children,” Arcilla said in Filipino. Arcilla was the keynote speaker of the event.

In response, the Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Oriental said it has programs aimed to address the issue such as Alternative Learning System (ALS) that is common to all and the Alternative Delivery System (ADS) which sought to provide more inclusive approaches and wider strategies for better access to education.

The International Labor Organization declared June 12 as the World Day Against Child Labor to give importance to the efforts of eradicating child labor.

Chief Labor Officer of DOLE Negros Oriental, Rogen Cumba said “(Today) We celebrate our efforts against child labor. We are committed in eradicating child labor in the province.”

Cumba also reported that in the province, most child laborers are involved in the sugarcane industry.

The event was headed by the DOLE and was attended by other stakeholders including DepEd, Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Oriental, various schools, Non-Government Organizations (NGO) and child delegates from Mabinay, Bayawan, Sta. Catalina, Tanjay, Manjuyod and Siaton towns in the province.

Childfund Philippines, a NGO against child labor shared their programs that aimed at reducing working children in the sugarcane industry through education interventions and by engaging families into livelihood and skills training programs.

The event also highlighted a ceremonial turnover of books from stakeholders to a child representative of Childfund Philippines.

The turn-over marked the launching of “Libro mo, Edukasyon campaign” which aims to strengthen the access of educational materials for children to be more encouraged to go to school rather than go to work.

Participating stakeholders of the campaign were the DepEd, PNP Negros Oriental and some schools in Dumaguete including Silliman University, Negros Oriental State University, Asian College of Science and Technology, St. Paul’s University and the Colegio De Sta. Catalina De Alejandria.

Each of them was given book drive boxes to encourage more people to donate books.

Meanwhile, DepEd representative Carmelita Alcala challenged the beneficiaries of the campaign to take care of their books. “I would like to challenge the children to take of their books. That is their responsibility,” she added. (mbcn/RAL/PIA7-NEGOR)