The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reiterated its commitment to eliminating child labor in Romblon province, as part of its ongoing campaign to address this issue.
During the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” event held on September 17, DOLE Romblon Provincial Office Head, Philip Ruga, emphasized that their efforts are focused on assisting 600 targeted child laborers across the province this year.
Last week, the department provided support through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program to 46 parents of child laborers profiled in the municipality of Santa Maria.
According to Ruga, these government interventions aim to provide families with adequate livelihood opportunities, ensuring that children are no longer forced to work at a young age and can instead focus on their education.
Ruga pointed out that poverty remains one of the main reasons why child labor persists in the province.
“The general answer to this is still poverty, especially in Romblon, where life is difficult. That’s why some children, instead of going to school, end up helping their parents make a living to the point where they completely stop attending school,” he explained.
As of now, DOLE has identified around 500 child laborers in Romblon, according to Ruga. The department continues to monitor these cases to ensure that the children receive proper education and do not return to work prematurely. Many of these children are involved in fishing, farming, and working in marble quarries.
Ruga believes that DOLE's effort to break the cycle of poverty and give children the opportunity to pursue their education is key to resolving the problem of child labor in the province.
