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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider QC LGU forms task force for child protection vs forced labor, exploitation

QC LGU forms task force for child protection vs forced labor, exploitation

Published Oct 1, 2022 05:12 pm

By Diann Calucin

The Quezon City (QC) local government announced on Saturday, Oct. 1, that it has convened a local task force to protect minors from forced labor and abuse.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte led the creation of "Task Force Sampaguita" or Quezon City Interagency Task Force for the Special Protection of Street Children and Child Laborers after discovering an increase in the number of children selling sampaguita during the joint surveillance of the QC Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and Social Services Development Department (SSDD) along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City last August.

The local government unit anticipates more children involved in labor exploitation as the Christmas season nears. It also revealed that the majority of children were residents of other cities.

Mayor Belmonte will serve as the task force's chairperson, with Public PESO head Rogelio Reyes as co-chairperson and SSDD head Fe Macale as vice-chairperson.

"Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, napipilitan ang ilang kabataan na ilaan ang kanilang oras sa pagtatrabaho imbes na sa pag-aaral. Narito ang pamahalaang lungsod para alalayan at suportahan ang kanilang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng iba-ibang tulong at serbisyo (Because of poverty, they are forced to spend their time working instead of studying. The city government is here to help and support their families by providing help and services)," Belmonte said.

Task Force Sampaguita will develop an action plan based on the guidelines of Republic Act 7610 as amended by RA 9231 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, Presidential Decree No. 1563 or the Anti-Medicancy Law, and other related legislative measures.

Among the task force's target-specific programs and interventions are city-wide profiling of street children and their families, and developing a referral system to streamline communication with relevant agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), non-government organizations (NGOs) as well as with the other LGUs where the street children came from.

Through Task Force Sampaguita, the city government will also improve connections with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide national government services for child laborers.

Meanwhile, the city government said the task force is currently assisting the families of profiled children to secure QCitizen IDs (Quezon City Identification Cards) to access the LGU's assistance services such as livelihood assistance, educational assistance for children-at-risk, Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) and solo parent assistance.

The city government also encourages the public to report street children and child labor cases to QC Hotline 122.

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