Employees from various BARMM ministries and agencies attend the Project Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) meeting on February 12, 2024, in Cotabato city. (Photo courtesy of MOLE)
COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Government with the International Labour Organization (ILO) of Japan Government intensify campaign against child labor during the 1st Project Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) coordination meeting on February 12, 2024.
Bai Sara Jane Sinsuat, Director of the Bureau of Employment, Promotion and Welfare said, “It is our responsibility to ensure that every child can enjoy their rights and protect them from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, cruelty, and discrimination on the prejudice of their development.”
She underscored that the action taken aims to raise awareness about child labour and increase government and community participation in the advocacy to end child labor in all all six provinces and three cities of BARMM.
Accordingly, BARMM has over 530 duty bearers and stakeholders successfully trained on child labor concepts and laws.
In addition, more than a hundred have been capacitated on Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media (SCREAM) led by the Bangsamoro’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE).
“I encouraged participants to continue working together and strengthen collaboration that will contribute towards a child-labor free BARMM,” Sinsuat added.
During the event, the committee members also discussed the progress and initial outcomes of the ongoing massive campaign and awareness-raising initiatives.
ILO Project Manager Ma. Jennylyn Aguinaldo mentioned the unwavering supports of MOLE in their project on Achieving Reduction of Child Labor in Support Education in the region.
“If they want education assistance, we should provide, if their parents needs our livelihood assistance, we should also provide. By having a strong collaboration with the concerned stakeholders we can do something for the needs of Bangsamoro vulnerable children,” she added.
Rosslaine Alonto – Sinarimbo, Director-General of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism (MTIT) and Director General Abdulrakman Asim of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) were also present, reconfirming their commitment to address child labour in the Bangsamo region. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
