In an effort to withdraw children from all forms of child labor, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the country’s key player in social protection, has committed to provide holistic and immediate interventions at the community level to address this concern.
With a three-pronged approach and multi-layered strategies, the DSWD launched nationwide the Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and Other Developmental Services or the SHIELD Against Child Labor Project to help eliminate child labor, particularly its worst forms and those in the blanket ban.
The nationwide launch of SHIELD Against Child Labor Project in July 2021 was the outcome of its successful pilot implementation from 2017 to 2019 in 15 barangays in seven cities and municipalities across Regions CALABARZON, V, VIII and X. With the pilot project, some 447 children have been withdrawn from child labor in the said areas.
From fisher boy to cream of the crop
“Dahil sa tulong ng SHIELD, hindi na po ako nagda-dagat at nakakapag-focus na ako sa pag-aaral at katunayan nga po ako ay top 1 sa klase,” 15-year old Andrie said.
Andrie, was among the children-beneficiaries of the SHIELD project in Catanauan, Quezon. At the age of 10, he started to assist his father in fishing. Andrie’s childhood is never the same with a typical child, as he needs to spend most of his time catching fish in the sea, instead of playing on the grounds and going to school.
He was in Grade 4 when he decided to stop schooling, which his parents did not agree to, but Andrie insisted. “Gusto ko po talagang makatulong dito sa bahay kasi po mahirap ang buhay. Tapos, nabu-bully din po ako ng mga kaklase ko,” Andrie shared, recalling the moments he told his parents about his decision.
His choice to no longer go to school affected the provision of grants to them, as Andrie and her sister, Angelica, are also monitored children under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program since 2011. The family is being provided with cash grants in exchange for their compliance to the program conditions on education, which is attending their classes with a minimum of 85 percent attendance rate every month.
“Nung hindi siya pumapasok, hindi na rin po namin natatanggap ang cash grants para sa pag-aaral niya. Kay Angelica na lang po ang natatanggap namin,” said Santa Advincula, mother of Andrie.
Undeniably, Andrie’s family had difficulty accepting his decision, but soon enough, they learned to look at the brighter side of it, especially that his contributions to their finances were indeed helpful at some point.
Within three years of working, Andrie was identified by the Child Labor Local Registry (CLLR) as a child laborer in the municipality through the introduction of the SHIELD against child labor project in their locality.
“Itinuro sa amin na ang mga bata pala, hindi dapat pinagtatrabaho. Ito ay labag sa batas at maaari kaming mga magulang na makasuhan,” shared Mrs. Advincula, who realized her responsibilities as parent of Andrie.
In June 2017, Andrie enrolled back in Grade 4 at Catanauan Central School. Being a 13-year-old grade schooler during that time, he is older than most of his classmates, however, Andrie remained committed to pursuing his study.
“Natutunan ko po na ang mga bata ay dapat nag-aaral at hindi nagtatrabaho lalo na kung wala pa sa edad. Sinabi din po nina Mama na dapat mag-aral ako para makakuha ng mas magandang trabaho,” Andrie said.
With hardwork and dedication, he was recognized as the cream of the crop of his class and awarded as best in Mathematics. He was also commended for being courteous and helpful.
“Mag-aaral po akong mabuti para maging isang pulis at para maiahon ko ang pamilya ko mula sa kahirapan,” Andrie added, with a promise to finish his studies.
Andrie is now 17 years old and in his 8th Grade at Southern Luzon Academy in Catanauan, Quezon.
Mining the treasure of childhood
Jeremy is the youngest among three siblings. He lives with his elder sister’s family since his mother died of kidney failure, while his father lives with his new partner.
Due to his family situation, Jeremy started working as a ‘gold panner’ in the gold mining area in Barangay Malaya, Labo, Camarines Sur at the age of 10. Working in mining is considered as one of the worst forms of child labor. according to the International Labor Organization Convention 182, as this work may endanger the life of a child.
At a young age, Jeremy took risks and did not fear the hazard he had been facing every single day just to earn a living. He also worked as the caregiver of his four nieces in exchange for his stay in his sister’s abode.
With this setup, Jeremy had to stop his studies. Also, he was traumatized by one of his teachers in Grade 2 in 2013. From then on, he was not able to go back to school despite the encouragement of his sisters and teachers.
Jeremy was then profiled and validated as one of the child laborers in their area through the SHIELD Helpdesk. Together with his sister, he attended the Community Caravan and some workshops on children’s rights. They both became aware of their rights as well as the law on child labor and its implications to a family and to the community.
With the motivation and encouragement that these efforts have given to Jeremy, he stopped doing gold panning activities. He also became a member of their organized group of child laborers called “Samahan ng Batang MALAYA Kontra Child Labor” in 2018. Likewise, his sister supported and joined Jeremy in his journey to be free from the clutches of child labor. In fact, his sister is the secretary of their organization called Malaya SHIELD Against Child Labor Parent’s Association (MSACLPA).
In 2019, Jeremy continued his schooling and enrolled back in Malaya Elementary School. He never failed to attend his classes and focused more on his studies, which made him the top 2 of his class.
From 2018 to 2019, Jeremey received educational assistance worth Php500.00 per month from the Shield Project’s Barangay Help Desk on Child Labor, which provides support services to child laborers and their families to ensure immediate and accessible interventions at the community level.
With the new journey he is taking, along with the support of his family and the efforts of the whole community, Jeremy is now enjoying his teenage years, and is hopeful that he will finish the K-12 curriculum.
Through the ordinance passed by Barangay Malaya prohibiting children in the mining site, Jeremy and his neighbors are looking forward to a community that provides the best childhood experience to every young individual.
Bridging the brighter future of children
Pursuant to Republic Act 9231, the SHIELD Project was developed to contribute to the removal of one million children from child labor by 2025, as envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Philippine Program against Child Labor (PPACL).
Andrie and Jeremy were among the children who have been withdrawn from child labor, and are now journeying new path towards a brighter future. Through the initiatives of the SHIELD Project, many families and communities are hopeful that someday, millions of children will enjoy their childhood, finish their studies, and become productive members of society. ###
