DSWD7, DOLE7 unite to strengthen efforts against child labor in Cebu

MALABUYOC, Cebu-- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office 7 and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) joined hands to strengthen efforts against child labor through an Information and Service Caravan on the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program in Malabuyoc town in Cebu, through DSWD’s Strategic Helpdesk for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental (SHIELD) project.

The SHIELD project is a community-based initiative aimed at eliminating child labor, particularly its worst forms.  Its objectives include withdrawing children from child labor and provide holistic interventions; strengthen anti-child labor efforts at the local level and establish helpdesks and a local registry on child labor for referral and convergence of support services.

According to SHIELD Program Focal Person Glenda Riel, over 197 child laborers and 120 parents, who are also beneficiaries of DOLE’s TUPAD program, attended the activity at the Malabuyoc, covered court last March, this year.  The DSWD and DOLE joint event aimed to remove children from child labor, prevent new cases, and provide targeted support to affected families through localized, multi-agency services.

The event also raised awareness on child labor laws, promoted education, and offered livelihood assistance, supporting the vision of a child-labor-free Philippines. They also received free meals from food carts, groceries and other essential items.

The activity in Malabuyoc included a tree planting and the signing of a Pledge of Commitment, followed by orientations on Republic Act No. 9231, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, and on available programs and services addressing child labor.

SHIELD program is implemented in 16 regions in the country and data showed that over 12,000 child laborers assisted from 2021 to 2024 with 3,887 minors reintegrated into their families and communities.

Child labor is a significant issue in Central Visayas, SHIELD program bared that there were 7,892 child laborers that were profiled in Central Visayas in 2025, exceeding the target of 7,560 and most of these children are from Negros Oriental, Cebu Province, Siquijor, and the Tri-City Field Office.

The agriculture sector has the highest number of child laborers, with 85,570 recorded in the DSWD Listahanan database.

 In Region 7 alone, over 12,000 child laborers have been assisted by the DSWD from 2021 to 2024 through the SHIELD Against Child Labor Program with 3,887 minors have already been reintegrated with their families and communities, while 400 child laborers received various assistance, including educational support, since 2021.

The Regional Council for the Welfare of Children–7 (RCWC-7), and member agencies of the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL)in Central Visayas, including the Department of Justice Action Center–Region VII (DOJAC-7), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-7), and the Department of Agriculture–Central Visayas (DA-7) were one in support to the local SHIELD caravan in Malabuyoc town.