DOLE rescues 50 child laborers in Butuan City, extends support services
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — About 50 child laborers engaged in hazardous work were rescued and provided support services by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other partner agencies, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting the children.
Most of the children were previously engaged in work not appropriate to their age and capacity, such as construction, waste scavenging, small-scale mining, and agricultural work. These situations exposed them to unsafe and harmful conditions.
Of these children, 20 are from Barangay Kinamlutan, 19 from Barangay Doongan, and 11 from Barangay De Oro. These children were profiled from 2019 to 2025 and assisted during the first quarter Information and Service Caravan on March 31, 2026.
According to Gladys O. Cafe, livelihood development specialist of DOLE Caraga, one of the most common reasons children engage in labor is their strong desire to help their families and ease their current economic hardships.
“Most child laborers in Butuan City willingly work because they are aware of their family’s situation, often struggling to meet basic needs such as food. At a very young age, they already feel the need to help their families survive, when, in fact, survival is a fundamental right that should be fully protected for every child,” said Cafe.
To ensure that the children will no longer return to hazardous labor, DOLE Caraga and other agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), extended immediate assistance, such as hygiene kits, essential goods, and orientations on Republic Act No. 9231.
Beyond these, the department emphasized long-term interventions. Under the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP), parents were beneficiaries of livelihood programs and in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
“By providing livelihood support directly to their parents, we can ensure that they have a sustainable income that can ensure that their children are provided for and can return to school and have proper education,” Cafe added.
Meanwhile, the city government of Butuan expressed its strong support for the campaign against child labor. City Mayor Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun assured the city’s strong support and continued collaboration.
“Rest assured, the city government will partner with DOLE, and whatever support you need to strengthen and promote our program against child labor, we will provide. You can count on our full support. I have always been an advocate for children’s rights and welfare since my time in Congress,” he said. (MFC, PIA Caraga with a report from DOLE Caraga)
