The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office IV-A through its Rizal Provincial Office (DOLE-RPO) gave an early Christmas treat to fifty (50) identified child laborers from the city through its Project Angel Tree, on December 17, 2022.
DOLE-RPO, in partnership with the City Government of Antipolo, gathered fifty (50) identified child laborers from five (5) barangays: Sta. Cruz, San Jose, San Luis, Dalig and San Isidro. This is to spread joy and make them feel the spirit of Christmas through gift-giving and fun activities prepared for the children.
Most of the children were engaging in work like scavenging, garbage collection, and porting of construction materials.
For the 2022 Project Angel Tree, DOLE-RPO’s thirteen (13) "angels" namely, Team Kramer, City Government of Antipolo, SK Federation of Antipolo, Budget Office of Antipolo, Agimat Partylist, Linetech, Cathay Pacific Steel Corporation, Amcor Specialty Cartons Rizal, Corp., Excel Source Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Tiesto Apparel Mfg. Inc., Frankhaus International, and Allied Integrated Sales & Services, gave monetary and in-kind donations to the children and their families.
Rizal Provincial Director Marivic B. Martinez reminded the children that they should remain kind and prioritize their studies. She also emphasized that they should no longer engage in labor.
"Maging mabait na bata at dapat palaging mag-aaral. Huwag na munang magtrabaho o gumawa ng anumang trabaho dahil ang bata ay dapat nag-aaral", Dir. Martinez said.
Antipolo SK Federation President Peter Papel, Antipolo Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Marie Fe B. Iquin and staff as well as the representatives from Cathay Pacific Steel Corporation also allotted their time to witness the event and assist the Department in distributing the gifts.
Furthermore, PESO Antipolo let the children experience an enchanted world by giving them a tour to their giant Disney-inspired "Encanto" Christmas Tree.
For “Penny” *, a 16-year-old scavenger, receiving bags of food packs and Christmas treats was a really big help for their family. She said that she is very happy for being one of the beneficiaries of the project.
“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa mga food package at sa pagpili po sa akin dito,” “Penny” said.
“Penny” was profiled by Rizal Government Interns on this year’s implementation of Child Labor Profiling in Antipolo City. She collects scrap materials, garbage within Antipolo City and Marikina. “Penny” opted to work to help her father’s medication and to sustain their family’s needs.
Project Angel Tree is one of the program components of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) which aims to provide a pool of social services that ranges from food, clothing, educational assistance, and even job/training opportunities made available by sponsors/benefactors (dubbed as ‘angels’) to the child laborers and their families.
by:
FLINT OSRIC T. GOROSPE
Community Facilitator
CHARMAINE D. BAISA
LEO III
