SHIELD Against Child Labor Project
From the Listahanan Database of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there are already 85,870 child laborers in the Philippines with largest numbers coming from the agricultural sector or children who help in farming, followed by child laborers in construction, manufacturing, fishing, and mining.
The Strategic Helpdesk for Information Education Livelihood and Other Developmental Activities or SHIELD against Child Labor Project is the very first comprehensive project of the DSWD and the International Labor Organization (ILO) with the aim of addressing the increasing cases of Child Labor in the country.
SHIELD in Caraga
After the pilot-implementation of the project in the year 2017 to 2019 in Regions IV-A, V, VIII, and X, up to 447 child laborers 15 years of age and below have been assisted by DSWD SHIELD. And because the Agency, the LGUs, and the partners saw its effectiveness, the implementation of SHIELD has continued throughout the country – where each Region we’re given one hundred (100) slots, including CARAGA.
SHIELD is under the Sectoral Section of the Protective Services Division with Ms. Floremie Arado Badoria, PDO II, as focal person. Ms. Badoria handles referrals and cases of child laborers since December 14, 2021 for its pilot area in Tandag City. Through the program, children receive educational assistance while their parents will be given the opportunity to learn various income-generating services.
Beneficiaries, being minors, will be accompanied by their parents during two semesters of the year to claim their grants – three thousand pesos (Php3,000), or five hundred pesos (Php500) per month from January to June (January-June) and July to December (July-December).
Tale of two Mothers
It’s a fact that no parent would want their children to experience the hardships of working in the fields or streets – but left with no other choice, even against the will of Mrs. Marlyn Marsamolo, 58 years old, and Mrs. Gerelyn Jorge, 48 years old, they needed their children to help them make a living – in order for them to have food on their tables, in order for them to survive.
Fortunately, the Department of Social Welfare and Development was able to introduce them to the SHIELD Against Child Labor Project program where they were given the opportunity to learn various income-generating services such as food processing and nail-care services.
“Mapasalamaton ako sa gi conduct nga training (food processing og nail care services), dakong tabang kaayo ni sa akong pamilya kay aron naa mi additional nga income, hilabi kay gihatagan pud kami ug mga gamit sa pagluto pan panimula” (I am very grateful for the trainings that SHIELD conducted for us, this is a great help to my family – as an additional income, especially that they have given us free cooking tools to start a living), Mrs. Gerelyn said.
Their children were also provided with sufficient educational assistance by SHIELD to ensure that they would never have to endure working again in a very young age.
“Dako akong pasalamat sa DSWD SHIELD project sa educational assistance nga gihatag sa akong anak, napalitan nako siya ug uniform, sapatos, bag og uban pang gamit pangskwela” (I am very grateful to the DSWD SHIELD project for the financial assistance they gave to my son, I bought him a new uniform, shoes, bag, and other things he can use in his studies), Mrs. Marlyn added.
The two hardworking mothers are from the Barangays of Rosario and Mabua, Tandag City and they sincerely expressed their gratitude to the Department along with the promise that they will no longer engage their children to child labor and that that they will do everything to support their studies with the help of SHIELD.
Team Caraga salutes people like Nay Marlyn and Nay Gerelyn, always remember that the DSWD will never stop helping the willing and deserving!
