Project ACE celebrate Safer Internet Day through a child labor forum in Cagayan De Oro City

 

In celebration of the Safer Internet Day this year, World Vision’s Project ACE conducted a child labor forum in Cagayan De Oro City (CDO) together with stakeholders last February 24, 2023. The forum was attended by representatives from 80 barangays in the city aiming to intensify its advocacy towards the elimination of the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

 

“Let us protect, prevent, and remove children from child labor to eradicate child labor and its worst forms in Northern Mindanao because we want to see our children successful of their dreams and ultimately mga “Batang Malaya” as they conquer their lives free from hazardous work and exploitation,” said Assistant Regional Director Estrella Pahalla during her inspirational message.

 

Project ACE has been working with the local government of CDO since 2019 to strengthen the city’s services towards child laborers and to capacitate service providers to asses and evaluate gaps among its programs. Currently, Project ACE is focused in three barangays in CDO namely Gusa, Cugman, and Puntod. With the observed good practices in crafting ordinances, the local government is now targeting to involve all 80 barangays in its advocacy against WFCL.

 

Project ACE Director Daphne Culanag, during her presentation of child rights and child labor 101, highlighted the importance of knowing the difference of child labor versus child work and how the Global March Against Child Labor was launched in the Philippines 25 years ago.

 

While cases of OSAEC and child labor remain high in the city, Department of Labor and Employment – Cagayan de Oro City Field Office in Region 10 shared the agency’s interventions in addressing child labor and guidelines in issuing working child permit. Furthermore, Department of Social Welfare and Development together with Project ACE support the city government’s rollout and implementation of the Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and Other Developmental Services (SHIELD) Against Child Labor program with the goal of improved services for the child laborers and their families.

In the afternoon, participants raised their concerns and issues during the open forum. Topics on housing, honorarium, and combatting OSAEC were particularly discussed and panelists assured them of looking into such issues.

 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Safer Internet Day in the Philippines with the theme “Together for a Better Internet”. Along with the Philippine government, Project ACE aims to eliminate WFCL including OSAEC and acceptable conditions of work.

 

Funding is provided by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreement number IL 34007-19-75-K. 100 percent of the total costs of the project in the Philippines is financed with United States Department of Labor funds.

 



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