By Dang Samson Garcia
CALOOCAN City Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan assured to continue their initiatives against child labor.
As part of their action, the City Government of Caloocan is providing livelihood packages for a total of 33 parent-beneficiaries.
The parents received assistance from the city Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in the form of bigasan packages, complete with two sacks of rice, weighing scales, and sando bags for repacking.
Malapitan declared Caloocan’s status as a child-friendly city and vowed his administration will be consistent in implementing the programs against all forms of child abuse.
“Isang klase lamang po ng abuso sa kabataan ang child labor kaya naman sinisiguro natin na lahat ng karahasan at pang-aabuso ay maiiwasan natin. Marami na po tayong programa at proyektong nasimulan ngunit asahan po ninyo na hindi tayo tumitigil sa pagkilos upang bigyan ng magandang buhay ang mga Batang Kankaloo,” Malapitan said.
“Nakikita naman po natin sa mga pagkilala na natanggap ng lungsod ang ating kakayahan na unahin ang kapakanan ng mga kabataan. Kamakailan lamang, kinilala tayo sa Local Council for the Protection of Children Assessment bilang isang lungsod na may ‘ideal’ rating pagdating sa pangangalaga ng interes ng mga bata,” he added.
Malapitan likewise expressed his gratitude towards the PESO and its partners for their combined efforts to ensure the elimination of child labor in a holistic and productive way.
“Isang malaking bagay na po ang mahigpit na pagbabawal nating pagtrabahuhin ang mga bata, ngunit batid din natin na paulit-ulit mangyayari ito kung wala tayong ibang gagawin. Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa PESO at sa kanilang mga partner agencies at companies dahil nasisiguro natin na kayang tugunan ang puno’t dulo ng problemang ito,” the Mayor stated.
Previously, around 100 parents have already benefitted from the city government’s initial livelihood distribution during the main celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 23.