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DSWD's SHIELD program liberates over 10K children from exploitative labor

Philippines | National

DSWD's SHIELD program liberates over 10K children from exploitative labor

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

As the country marks the World Day Against Child Labor, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reaffirmed its commitment to ending child labor through its Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) Program, which has liberated over 10,000 child workers from exploitative labor conditions.

With this year's Philippine theme, “Bawat Bata, Malaya: Mithiin ng Nagkakaisang Bansa,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao in a statement on Thursday, June 13, emphasized the need for collective efforts in ensuring that every child is free from any form of exploitation.

Dumlao said the SHIELD Program has assisted 10,192 child laborers nationwide from 2021 to 2023.

Of these, 1,986 beneficiaries have been successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.

Dumlao attributed this success to the comprehensive support provided by the program, including educational assistance, cash aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and case management services.

“Through the established local helpdesk, support services from various agencies for child laborers and their families are readily available to ensure immediate and accessible developmental intervention at the ground,” she said.

“The success of the implementation of the SHIELD Program can also be attributed primarily to the local government units across the country which have supported us in the implementation of this comprehensive program for child laborers in their respective localities,” she added.

Related Tags

DSWD Child Labor

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