MANILA, (PNA) –- In an effort to raise awareness and kick out child labor in the country, the National Child Labor Committee of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched on Tuesday a football clinic dubbed as “Lakas Sipa para sa Batang Malaya”.
DOLE Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad and ILO Manila Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson led the ceremonies of the event, which was held at the Emperador Stadium, Mckinley Hill, Taguig.
Through the football clinic, around 200 former child laborers aged 12 to 17 years old were able to play and enjoy playing football with Azkals players Phil and James Younghusband, who also supported the campaign.
According to Lagunzad, these children used to work in dangerous conditions, such as in the streets, farms and dumpsites.
One of the participants, Eugene, 12 year old from Quezon City had to quit 2 years in school to be able to help his family by selling cigarettes and candies on the streets from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.
Eugene said since he was exposed to the sun, he usually gets sun burn and gets sick plenty of times.
However, through DOLE’s Child Labor-Free Barangay program, giving him school supplies, Eugene got convinced to go back to school. Now, he is on the 5th grade, aspiring to become a policeman.
Lagunzad said this is what DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz wanted, to be able to help more, if not all of the child laborers in the country.
Reading Baldoz’ statement, Lagunza said the secretary believed that the football clinic will also complement government’s programs against child labor.
“ Marami na tayong nasimulan na gawain para matugunan ang problema sa child labor sa ating bansa. Sa katunayan, simula 2010 hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2013, mahigit 522 batang manggagawa na ang na-rescue ng Sagip Batang Manggagawa quick action teams,” Baldoz said.
The labor chief noted that these children, through the HELP ME convergence program with other government agencies, were not only rescued but were provided with counseling and skills training, to be able to convince them to refrain from working and go back to school and their families.
She added that through DOLE’s Child Labor-Free Barangay campaign, there were also 11,573 children at risk, who were prevented to ponder into child labor.
However, Baldoz also admitted that there is still a need to push for more programs and convergence to be able to completely eliminate the 2.9 million Filipino child laborers.
“Hindi natin kakayaning labanan ito kung kaniya-kaniya tayo, kundi mas mainam ay sama-sama tayo sa pagsugpo upang makamit natin ang inaasam-asam na “child-labor-free Philippines”, she said
“And pagpapalaya sa mga bata mula sa child labor an gating hangad. Ang tunay na batang malaya ay dapat natatamasa ang lahat ng karapatang pambata – nakakapag-aral, nakakapagpahinga, nakakapaglaro, ligtas sa kapahamakan, at malusog,” she added.
In line with this, Baldoz thanked sponsors, the diplomatic community, the government and non-government organizations, as well as private institutions, for supporting the campaign.
According to Lagunsad, the event will serve as a starting point for the children’s training, for the “Batang Malaya Football Tournament” which will be held on October 17.
For the tournament, the more than 200 children will be divided into 2 categories, the Under 15 or the 12 to 14 year old kids and the Under 17 or the 15 to 17 year old. The Under 15 has thirteen teams, with 10 to 15 players while the Under 17 has six teams, with 8 to 11 players.
This event will be followed by the “Tatak Batang Malaya Recognition”, the awarding ceremonies for the tournament. The event will happen on November 19.