DOLE declares GenSan village as child labor-free

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has declared an urban barangay in General Santos City as child labor-free as it intensified its efforts to eliminate the incidence of child labor in this city and several other areas in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz declared Barangay Bula on Monday as child labor-free following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the agency and local stakeholders for the promotion of child labor prevention and elimination initiatives in the area.
“This part of our ongoing intensified efforts to liberate all the country’s barangays with high incidence of child labor and make them child labor-free,” Baldoz said.
The MOU calls for the stricter enforcement of child labor laws, strengthening of advocacy campaigns against child labor and exploitation as well as the provision of alternative employment for the families of the area’s child workers.
It was signed by officials of Barangay Bula, the city government, Department of Education and the Marcellin Foundation.
Barangay Bula, which is one of the city’s oldest and biggest villages, was initially declared by the barangay council last month as child labor-free through Resolution No. 67 that was later affirmed by the city council.
The measure provided for the strengthening of the village’s partnership with DOLE Region 12 and other concerned agencies as well as support for the implementation of Republic Act 9231 or the Anti-Child Labor Law.
In a program held at the Barangay Bula gymnasium, Baldoz led the distribution of the school and other educational supplies to the 69 documented child workers of the village.
She also released various livelihood assistance packages in the form of Kabuhayan starter kits to 21 parents of the child workers.
The Bula barangay council earlier passed Resolution No. 64 authorizing its chair, Eduardo Vargas, to enter into a memorandum of agreement with DOLE-12 for the implementation of the Kabuhayan starter kit project in the area. [Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews]