CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment rolled out its “Bondpaper Ko, Module Mo” by giving reams of bondpaper to Umapad Elementary School and Maguikay National High School in Mandaue City and Tejero Night High School in Cebu City.
The said project wherein the agency works closely with the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL) aims to extend assistance to some selected public schools in need of materials and resources to facilitate learning of the students.
Apart from the reams of bond paper, school-recipients also received hygiene and sanitation kits such as sachets of shampoo, bottles of alcohol, bar soap, toothbrush, and face masks, among others.
DOLE-7 regional director Salome O. Siaton said that this is one of their ways of demonstrating support to the public schools while they endeavor to ensure the quality and appropriateness of learning modules as they continue implementing blended learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Siaton reinforced the statement made earlier by Department of Education assistant regional director Cristito Eco by saying that the DOLE is part of that village in raising a child while ensuring that children are given the opportunity to enjoy their rights.
“It’s very important that we put our acts together. If the children are allowed to enjoy their given rights such as their right to study and learn, then they are not at risk of becoming child laborers,” said Siaton.
The DOLE-7 head also emphasized that the department is continuously advancing its efforts towards making the Region child labor-free eventually.
Siaton also toyed with the idea of providing livelihood assistance to the parents or guardians of students who are at risk of child labor.
In this way, she said, children can really go to school and are no longer deprived of their childhood, their potential and their dignity.
Siaton, who also sits as the RCACL-7 chairperson, thanked all the members of the council and the donors, who made the project come to reality.
Donors include the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Interior and Local Government, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, World Vision, Feed the Children, Philippine National Police and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. — GMR (FREEMAN)