DSWD Field Office Caraga hosted the five-day national orientation on the Strategic Helpdesk for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Development (SHIELD) Project on November 11-15, 2019 at Almont Hotel Inland Resort, Butuan City.

The activity, which is being spearheaded by the Program Management Bureau aims to address problems on Child Labor.

Child Labor is prohibited in the Philippines as stipulated under Republic Act No. 9321 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Labor Law of 2013. This law provides the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affords stronger protection for working child. The main reason for this problem is still because of poverty. Most of child labor is caused by the imperial need to survive. Even now, child laborers can still be found in farms, plantations, in dangerous mines, streets, factories, and private homes.

Participants from the different regions, composed of Social Workers from the Field Offices and the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs)  gained necessary skills and knowledge in handling child labor cases, and came up with necessary actions to address the said issue during the said activity. They also defined a concept on how to increase awareness in handling cases of child labor and developed regional plans/activities for institutionalization of the project to ensure the continuity of the SHIELD.

Director Wilma D. Naviamos of the Program Management Bureau – DSWD Central Office, also shared her insights on the replication of the Strategic Helpdesk for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Development (SHIELD) Project.

According to the rationale of SHIELD, it is very important to eliminate child labor as soon a s possible, so efforts to assist the families of the laborers are significant. One of the solution to this problem is the provision of livelihood support and skills training.

DSWD is mandated to address the welfare of vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors, which includes children, and uphold their rights.###