World Vision strengthens fight against child labor in Cordillera Region
CLEAR CAR project launch led by (L-R) Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. board of trustees member Ana Liza Cortez, World Vision Philippines operations director Ajab-Aram Macapagat, Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region regional director Estela Leon-Cariño, Ed.D CESO III, and World Vision Philippines operations manager for Luzon Roberto Dazo.
Child labor has been a longstanding issue that the Philippines continues to face to this day. In a 2023 data shared by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), there were about 678,000 cases of child labor, of which 12,305 were identified in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
To address this pressing issue, World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, together with Lingap Pangkabataan Inc., a faith-based social development organization, has introduced the Child Labor-Effective Awareness and Response in Cordillera Administrative Region (CLEAR CAR) project.
CLEAR CAR aims to support national efforts in eliminating the worst forms of child labor in the country, as well as online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The key areas include Ifugao, Benguet, and Mountain Provinces.
Joining the efforts are eighteen European Union (EU)-member Ambassadors, as well as representatives from local government units. The launch included a stakeholders’ dialogue, while leaders of partner communities of the three target provinces, signed a memorandum of agreements, conducting training sessions and awareness raising workshops.
The project has so far identified 1,045 families to be part of the project across three provinces, including 556 families at risk of being exposed to child labor and 206 families involved in hazardous child labor activities such as mining, farming, vending, working in restaurants, and other odd jobs.
Part of the CLEAR CAR project is improving the education of children through the Brigada Pagbasa (reading remedial) program, as well as having their families learn how to save a portion of hard-earned money through the Community Savings and Credit Association (CoMSCA), a community-led savings program that provides simple savings and loan facilities to members.
While so much has been done, for Ajab-Aram Macapagat, World Vision operations director, this is only the start, “We will continue to ramp up efforts to uphold our mission to educate communities about the dangers of child labor and give children the childhood they deserve – out of harmful labor conditions and are able to enjoy school and play with their friends.”
EU Ambassador to the Philippines, Massimo Santoro also expressed his support, stressing the role of society to protect children, “Child labor deprives children of an education. It deprives them of opportunities. Every child has the right to an education, protection; every society has a stake in expanding children’s opportunities and lives.”
Meanwhile, 17-year old Danielle, one of the attendees of the event emphasized the importance in educating people for action-led platforms, “I really believe it is important to pursue educating people in order to lead action-led narratives or action-led platforms in everywhere we go so that these forms of child labor are no longer being normalized.”
The CLEAR CAR project is co-funded by one of the European Union’s grants to civil society projects working with people living in vulnerable conditions. The budget, having a total amount of €1,093,333, The EU has undertaken to finance a maximum amount of €820,000 equivalent to 75 percent of the total eligible cost of the action.
Aside from the CLEA CAR project, World Vision has year-long campaigns including the child sponsorship program, to ensure that every child, especially those living in vulnerable circumstances, can live a life full of hope, joy, and justice.
For more updates on World Vision and its programs, visit the World Vision website at https://www.worldvision.org.ph and follow World Vision Philippines’ official social media pages: @worldvisionph on Facebook and Twitter, and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.
