Province first in enacting order banning child labor

NORTHERN Samar became the first province in the country to enact a local ordinance banning child labor -- a move lauded by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

In a statement, Dole Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said this is a big step towards attaining a child labor-free Philippines.

Provincial Ordinance No. 11 series of 2012 recently signed by Governor Paul Daza, penalizes child labor infringement, and provides for a program for the prevention and elimination of child labor in Northern Samar. The ordinance allocates P1 million initial funds for its implementation.

“We take pride of its leaders for it is the first province in the country that was able to pass an ordinance against child labor and provided funding for its implementation. This shows the seriousness of the provincial government in eliminating child labor in the province of Northern Samar,” Sarcauga said.

The ordinance also orders the creation of the Northern Samar Child Labor Committee that is primarily responsible for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the ordinance.

The committee is chaired by the governor, co-chaired by DOLE provincial Head, with some government agencies and private stakeholders as members.

Municipalities are also mandated to create their child labor committees and child labor protection desk in all police stations managed by policemen to deal with concerns.

For this year, the provincial committee has planned out to conduct of strategic planning, recognizing the performance Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC), establishing vertical link for child labor through focal persons who must be capacitated, and conduct child labor congress.

At least 14 barangays in the province have passed barangay ordinances for the prevention and elimination of child labor, and resolutions organizing or reactivating BCPC.

Sarcauga added that the child labor ordinances set the policies and guidelines at the provincial and barangay level on how to curb child labor in their areas. It is also one of the indicators in achieving a child-labor-free status in their province. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)