(Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY — The local government of Dolores in Eastern Samar has received a P3.44-million livelihood grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide sustainable income opportunities for parents of child laborers and help reduce poverty in the municipality.
The grant is intended to support families identified as vulnerable to child labor, underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting children and promoting their welfare.
The funding will provide parents with decent and sustainable livelihood opportunities, addressing financial hardship considered one of the main causes of child labor. Through economic support for families, the program aims to keep children away from hazardous work and encourage them to return to school.
“This grant is a significant opportunity to change their lives. Through this funding, we will give parents the chance to have decent and stable livelihoods so their children will no longer be forced to work and can instead return to school,” Mayor Zaldy Carpeso said.
Carpeso emphasized that the assistance goes beyond financial aid, describing it as a long-term effort to break the cycle of poverty that pushes children into labor instead of education.
“Through unity and cooperation, we can break the cycle of poverty, protect our children, and ensure that every child in Dolores has the opportunity to study, dream, and achieve a better future,” he added.
The mayor also expressed gratitude to government agencies that helped facilitate the grant, including the regional offices of DOLE, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Carpeso assured residents that the funds would be used strictly for programs directly benefiting the identified families, ensuring that children in Dolores can pursue education without the burden of labor.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
