CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---Kapampangan Bishop Roberto "Bobet" Mallari has lauded the 'MaKaBata' helpline program against child labor.
The anti-child labor hotline is an initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the Council for the Welfare of Children which launched the program during the 2023 World Day against Child Labor last June 23.
Mallari, now bishop of San Jose City in Nueva Ecija and a member of the the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines' Office on the Protection of Minors, said in a message over Radio Veritas that the campaign will largely help in strengthening and protecting the rights of children.
"I thank the DOLE and DSWD officials for launching the MaKaBata (MA-halin at KA-lingain ating mga BATA) hotline. It will help to immediately address the abuses of children in any way,” the prelate said.
"MaKaBata" will enable faster reporting and response to concerns related to children, including child abuse and child labor.
The program supports DOLE's doubled efforts in eradicating child labor in the country, specifically in monitoring profiled child laborers to facilitate their removal from child labor.
The public may access child labor-related data, such as the country’s child labor situation and the current status of program implementation, through the knowledge exchange platform.
Concerned citizens can report cases of child labor and child abuse to DOLE and DSWD by sending a message to 0960-3779863, 0915-8022375, and e-mail address makabata1383@cwc.gov.ph.