CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Local Government of Barangay Cugman implemented the Barangay Ordinance No. 001, Series of 2022, May 16, 2022 or the “Ordinance Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination in the Entire Barangay of Cugman, this city,” which was authored by Family, Women’s and Education Committee Chairperson Ma. Elsie T. Jandayan.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 Cagayan de Oro City Field Office (CDO FO) Chief Emmanuel G. Toledo said the ordinance was enacted through the continuous advocacy of the Field Office thru its Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) and in partnership with World Vision’s Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE) to the various barangay officials who are mostly members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).
The thrust was deemed urgent and necessary to localize and enact the said ordinance after recognizing that child laborers are prevalent in their barangay. BCPC was given the blanket authority to fully enforce the ordinance.
In coordination with the FO, eight majority votes for the enactment of the said ordinance were reported and duly attested by Punong Barangay Wendelyn Escobia.
“Mao ni among kolektibong nakita nga pinakamaayong pamaagi sa pagprotekta ug pagsiguro nga ang mga kabataan mahatagan ug maayong ugma. Akong panghinaut nga ang tanang mga barangay sa syudad muhimo ug samang lakang aron mahunong ug mawala ang child laborers sa dakbayan,” Escobia said.
(This is a result of our collaborative efforts to provide a brighter future for our children. As the Punong Barangay, I hope that all other barangays will replicate our ordinance in order to gradually eradicate child labor in the city)
Likewise, Toledo lauded the efforts of the barangay officials in its fight against child labor. “Ang maong ordinansa sa Barangay Cugman usa ka modelo nga pwedeng mahimong i-replicate sa tanang barangay para ma-prevent ug ma-eliminate ang child labor sa matag barangay ug sa dakbayan,” he said.
(To prevent and eliminate child laborers in the city, Barangay Cugman’s ordinance is the ideal example to be emulated by other barangays)
Toledo assured to maintain its steadfast implementation of CLPEP in the city to boost advocacy on enactment of the same ordinance and profile the child laborers to all barangays.
CLPEP is firm in upholding the rights of children including their protection from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development, particularly child labor and remove the children from its worst forms.
It contributes to the Philippine Program Against Child Labor of the national government interventions for eliminating or preventing child labor by promoting child-focused actions, rights-based approach, result-based management, gender-responsiveness, cultural sensitivity, sustainable development, children and youth participation, decent and productive work for all. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)
Photo release:
Photo 1
Department of Labor and Employment-Cagayan de Oro Field Office’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program enumerators (rightmost) advocate child-labor free campaign at Sitio Malasag, Barangay Cugman. (DOLE-10 CDO FO)
Photo 2
Department of Labor and Employment-Cagayan de Oro Field Office’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program Community Facilitator Hyzle Karen R. Battad (right) interviews Cugman Punong Barangay Wendelyn Escobia (left) on the enacted Barangay Ordinance Against the Worst Forms of Child Labor at the Barangay Hall, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City. (Cugman LGU)
