THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas is worried with the 73,124 students who failed to attend classes this year.
In a press conference held at the MO2 Hotel in Iloilo City Thursday, March 28, Belen Gibusion, regional program coordinator on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), said the students are aged 15 to 18 years old.
"Based on the studies we conducted, the students have stopped going to school because many of them have already found jobs. These jobs include works at farms, as household helpers, among others," Gibusion said in a forum attended by media coming from the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz and Antique.
The 73,124 figure is part of the 627,928 students registered as 4Ps beneficiaries all over Western Visayas.
Based on the data provided, majority of these students came from Negros Province (35,500), Iloilo (17,967), Capiz (8,002), Antique (6,222), Aklan (4,013) and Guimaras (1,420).
"We are doing several programs hoping to encourage them to return to school by talking to them and to their parents. Some of the jobs entered into by the young people was considered child labor but we have to face the reality they need augmentation to support their family earn a living," she said.
But while the students promised to support their family, Gibusion said some of them preferred to buy mobile phones first before financing the needs of their families. (SunStar Philippines)