> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.wwconemedia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # DOLE Brings Child Labor Services to Disaster-Hit Families in Davao Occidental as Government Steps Up Protection Drive - URL: https://www.wwconemedia.com/untitled-2/ - Published: 2026-09-08T02:09:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-08T02:09:18.000Z - Author: WWC NEWSDESK - Tags: ASIA, BUSINESS, PHILIPPINES **JOSE ABAD SANTOS, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL — As families continue recovering from a powerful earthquake, government agencies in Davao are stepping up efforts to ensure that financial hardship and disaster do not push children into dangerous work.** The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Davao Region, together with the local government of Jose Abad Santos and several partner agencies, brought services directly to **150 children and their parents** through a major child labor prevention caravan. The initiative came as vulnerable families, including those affected by a **magnitude 7.8 earthquake**, continue to recover from the disaster. For DOLE and its partner agencies, the message was clear: **Children should be in school — not pushed into hazardous work because their families are struggling.** ## DOLE brings government services directly to families The **Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) Information and Service Caravan** was held on **Aug 20 at JAS Central Elementary School** in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. The activity was organised by DOLE Davao Region and its Davao Occidental Provincial Office in coordination with the **Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL) Davao** and the local government. Instead of requiring vulnerable families to travel from one government office to another, the caravan brought multiple agencies and services together in one location. Among the participating agencies were: - Philippine Statistics Authority - PhilHealth - Department of Health - Department of Education - Department of Social Welfare and Development - Department of Information and Communications Technology - Philippine National Police - Philippine Army - Philippine Information Agency - Provincial and municipal governments Families were provided with access to information, government assistance and services ranging from civil registration to health profiling and social support. ## Disaster recovery must not lead to child labor Natural disasters can place enormous financial pressure on families. Homes can be damaged. Jobs can be disrupted. Schools can temporarily close. And when household incomes fall, children can become vulnerable to exploitation or hazardous work. That is why the DOLE caravan specifically included families affected by the recent earthquake. Jose Abad Santos Mayor **Jason John A. Joyce** said, however, that the local government had not recorded cases of children being forced to work because of the earthquake. He credited the continuing assistance provided by municipal, provincial and national government agencies to affected families and evacuees. According to the mayor, the biggest immediate impact on children involved trauma and disruptions to face-to-face classes. But authorities are continuing to monitor vulnerable families to ensure that economic hardship does not create new child labor risks. ## 'No child should be forced to work because of poverty' The campaign is part of a broader government effort to tackle one of the most difficult problems behind child labor: **family poverty and unstable livelihoods**. DOLE officials stressed that preventing child labor cannot simply involve removing children from dangerous workplaces. Families also need support. Parents need opportunities. And children need access to education. During the caravan, parents received information about child labor prevention laws and were reminded of their role in protecting children from work that could endanger their: - Health - Safety - Education - Development - Future opportunities Families may also be referred to partner agencies for additional interventions, including skills training and alternative education opportunities. ## What happens when a child is found in hazardous work? DOLE's child labor prevention programme does more than raise awareness. Officials also work to identify and profile children who may already be engaged in child labor. Children found in hazardous situations can then be referred for intervention and support. The goal is to help them: **Return to school.** **Leave dangerous work.** **Receive protection and support.** **Build a safer future.** Their families may also be referred to other government programmes. Parents can potentially receive support through livelihood and skills development initiatives, while children may be linked to educational programmes, including the Department of Education's Alternative Learning System. DOLE officials have repeatedly stressed that helping the entire family is critical to keeping children out of hazardous work. ## Coastal communities face special risks DOLE also highlighted the unique risks faced by children in coastal communities such as Jose Abad Santos. Fishing is an important source of livelihood for many families. Children may grow up helping relatives and learning about the family trade. But officials warned that children should not be exposed to dangerous activities, particularly at sea. Eduardo Monreal, a DOLE-Davao Labor and Employment Officer, said children should not be taken into deep waters and should instead be encouraged to remain in school. The issue highlights the complicated reality surrounding child labor. Not every child helping a family is automatically considered a child laborer. But work becomes a serious concern when it is hazardous, interferes with education or threatens a child's health, safety and development. That is why community monitoring remains an important part of the government's prevention strategy. ## Government agencies unite against child labor One of the strongest messages from the caravan was that **DOLE cannot solve child labor alone**. The RCACL-Davao brings different government agencies together to provide a coordinated response. DOLE serves as chair of the council, with the DSWD acting as co-chair. The agencies work together across several areas, including: - Education - Livelihood - Health - Social protection - Child protection - Skills development - Community awareness The approach recognises that child labor is often connected to larger family and economic problems. A child may leave school because of poverty. A family may struggle because a parent has no stable income. A disaster may suddenly make an already vulnerable household even more financially insecure. That is why government agencies are increasingly focusing on prevention — before children become trapped in dangerous work. ## DOLE's wider campaign is expanding across the Philippines The Davao initiative forms part of a broader nationwide push by DOLE to strengthen child labor prevention in 2026. Earlier this year, DOLE announced an intensified campaign aimed at protecting vulnerable children through stronger enforcement, awareness programmes and family-based interventions. The national approach includes supporting parents and guardians with livelihood opportunities because unstable household income remains one of the key drivers that can place children at risk. DOLE has also expanded programmes that combine: - Child labor prevention - Livelihood support - Skills training - Education - Family intervention - Community monitoring In Davao Region, DOLE has already provided livelihood support to parents of profiled child laborers under its Kabuhayan programme as part of efforts to strengthen household income and reduce the economic pressures that can contribute to child labor. ## Mayor: Keep children in school Mayor Joyce urged parents to continue prioritising their children's education and to make use of available government programmes. He also encouraged communities to report cases involving child abuse and child labor. The local government continues to support children through programmes involving: - Daycare services - Feeding programmes - Scholarships - Financial assistance - Protective services The mayor's message focused on resilience following the earthquake. Homes and schools may have been shaken. But the future of young people, he said, should not be taken away by the disaster. ## Why child labor prevention matters after disasters The connection between disasters and child protection is increasingly important. When a major earthquake, typhoon or other disaster strikes, families can suddenly lose: - Homes - Jobs - Equipment - Livelihoods - Access to schools - Financial security Children can become especially vulnerable during the recovery period. Some may be expected to help earn money. Others may leave school temporarily. Some may become exposed to unsafe environments or exploitation. This is why bringing government services directly to disaster-hit communities can play an important role in prevention. The DOLE caravan in Jose Abad Santos was designed not only to respond to existing cases of child labor but also to identify risks before children are pushed into dangerous situations. ## The bigger challenge: Supporting the entire family Government officials increasingly recognise that telling children to stop working is not enough. If a family has no income, the underlying problem remains. That is why family-based interventions have become a major part of DOLE's strategy. The approach works on a simple principle: **Support the parent.** **Strengthen the household.** **Keep the child in school.** **Reduce the risk of child labor.** Through programmes such as skills training and livelihood assistance, agencies hope to give parents alternatives that can create more stable income. Education programmes can then help children remain in school. It is a long-term strategy — but one officials believe is necessary to break the cycle. ## What happens next? The caravan in Jose Abad Santos is part of an ongoing campaign. DOLE and its partner agencies are expected to continue: ### Supporting vulnerable families Parents may be connected to livelihood and skills programmes. ### Keeping children in education Children at risk can be referred to education and alternative learning interventions. ### Monitoring hazardous work Communities and government agencies can help identify children exposed to dangerous conditions. ### Strengthening agency coordination DOLE, DSWD, DepEd, DOH and other agencies will continue working together. ### Raising awareness Parents and communities will continue receiving information about child labor laws and child protection. The long-term goal is simple but challenging: **A future where no child has to sacrifice education, safety or health just to help a family survive.** ## The bottom line DOLE Davao Region and its partner agencies brought child labor prevention services directly to **150 children and parents in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental**, including families affected by a recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The government agencies provided access to services, information and interventions designed to protect vulnerable children and support struggling families. Officials said the municipality had not recorded children being forced into work because of the earthquake, but authorities remain focused on preventing financial hardship from creating future risks. The campaign also highlights a wider shift in the fight against child labor: **Protecting children means supporting families too.** For DOLE and its partners, the goal is not simply to remove children from hazardous work. It is to create the conditions that make child labor less likely in the first place. **Keep children safe.** **Keep them in school.** **Support their parents.** **And ensure that even after disaster strikes, poverty does not steal a child's future.** WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D