Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte promised parents of child laborers that he will work to help eliminate child labor in Davao City.
He issued this statement after noting an alarming trend of child labor in the country.
Based on the data of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) there are more than 20,000 child laborers profiled in the Davao Region in the last four years.
He also cited the data according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which states that the total number of working children was estimated at 935,120 in 2021, higher than the 596,919 reported number in 2020.
He said that the incidence of child labor in many parts of the globe, including the Philippines, has tremendously increased over the years.
“Children should be in classrooms to learn, and not in factories or out in the fields to earn,” Duterte said in a statement.
On June 12, 2023, the lawmaker through his son Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte, assured child laborers of his willingness to assist them.
Speaking before child laborers and their parents during the 2023 Araw ng Kalayaan para sa Batang Malaya at Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao in Matina, Davao City, Rigo said the office of Rep. Pulong is always open for them.
“Unta inyung mahinumduman nga kami sa opisina ni Congressman Pulong magpabilin nga andam mutabang kaninyu,” he said.
