Over 10,000 youths victims of child labor in QC —Belmonte

More than 10,000 youths in Quezon City were victims of child labor, Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Sunday. 

According to Luisito Santos’ report on Super Radyo dzBB, the city government conducted its 4th State of the City’s Children Report at Quezon Memorial Circle in line with the celebration of the National Children’s Month.

The activity was also in response to the issue of child labor, the report added.

Belmonte said about 5,229 boys and 4,773 girls were victims of child labor.

These youths, the mayor added, were selling sampaguita in the streets, working as vendors and in some factories.

“Sa kasalukuyan, mabilis at masusi ang proseso ng needs assessment at referral of appropriate city program at services upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga bata at ng kanilang pamilya,” she said.

(Currently, the process of assessing needs and referring children and their families to appropriate city programs and services is quick and thorough.)

Belmonte said that they aim to achieve zero percent child laborers in the city as soon as possible.

“Hindi po tayo papayag na ang mga kabataan na dapat na nag-aaral at naglalaro ay nagtrabaho. Lalong-lalo na sa tinatawag natin worst forms of child labor,” she said. “Nakikiisa ako sa mainit na panawagang wakasan na ang child labor.”

(We will not allow the youth who should be studying and playing to work. Especially in what we call the worst forms of child labor. I join the calls to end child labor.)

To achieve this, the city government has provided financial, educational and livelihood assistance, especially to families and youths who have been rescued from a series city-wide reach out operations conducted by Task Force Sampaguita (TFS).

“Hindi pa man tapos ang taon, mayroon ng 80 pamilyang nabigyan ng tulong pinansyal, edukasyon, at panimulang puhunan sa negosyo,” Belmonte said.

(Even before the end of the year, 80 families have received financial assistance, education, and start-up capital for their businesses.)

In an ambush interview with reporters, Belmonte said they are assessing the situation of the families that push youths to become child laborers.

“Magbibigay kami ng interventions sa kanilang mga magulang,” she said in the video posted by Santos on Twitter.

WATCH: Sumentro sa pagtugon sa child labor ang paggunita ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City sa National Children's Month. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/FUGfwpbH3l

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 27, 2022

(We will give interventions to the parents.)

Moreover, the mayor bared that most child laborers that were rescued in the city came from Mindanao.

“Marami pala sa child laborers na nakita natin ay hindi taga-Quezon City lalo na du’n sa nakaraang one-time big time natin activity. Most of them were from Mindanao. Tapos binibigyan pala sila ng pamasahe ng sinumang sindikato para lumuwas sa Metro Manila para kumita,” she said.

(Many of the child laborers were not from Quezon City, particularly in our previous one-time big-time activity. Most of them were from Mindanao. They were given fare by some syndicate so they can go to Metro Manila to work.)

“We have already union talks with the Department of Social and Welfare Development. Tinurnover na namin sa DSWD ‘yung mga hindi taga-Quezon City,” she added.

(We already had union talks with the Department of Social and Welfare Development. We have turned over to the DSWD those who are not from Quezon City.)

According to the city government, TFS, the city’s inter-agency body that protects children from exploitation, rescued a total of 377 individuals, including 167 children in street situations during its first reach out operation last week.

Since its creation last September, TFS rescued a total of 685 individuals including 296 street children, it added.

Seal of Child Labor-Free Zone

Meanwhile, the city government announced that the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) is now a child-labor-free zone.

According to the LGU, Belmonte awarded the Seal of Child Labor-Free Zone to QMC after all of its tenants, guards, gardeners, and admin staff underwent extensive training for Child Rights and Child Labor 101.

“Lahat ng establisyemento rito, walang ilegal na batang empleyado. At binuo nila ang kanilang Child Protection Policy upang agarang matugunan ang anumang report o insidente ng child exploitation,” she said.

“This is the historic site where our local intention to end child labor ignited a worldwide conviction that is now being shared by the nations of the world,” she added.

On January 17, 1998, the QMC served as the venue for the Global March Against Child Labor, according to Belmonte.

Other initiatives for children

Meanwhile, Belmonte said that the city council approved the Mental Health Code to train barangay employees, teachers, and non-teaching staff to address the first signs of mental health problems among students.

“Sa paraang ito, mabilis silang maire-refer sa mga propesyonal. Tuturuan din ang nasabing focal persons ng psychological first aid at iba pang protocol para sa referral,” she said.

(This way, they can be quickly referred to professionals. Focal persons will also be taught psychological first aid and other protocols for referrals.)

According to Belmonte, the city government also launched QC Birth Registration Online to fast-track the timely registration of birth certificates, cutting the process from one month to just two weeks.

The mayor also reported that the New Molave Youth Home was established in Barangay Payatas for children in conflict with the law (CICL).

NMYH is a 340-bed residential and rehabilitation center where CICLs are provided with rehabilitation services, free legal services, and education.

“Nasa 1,015 CICLs ang natulungan ng mga programang ito simula January hanggang November 15. Dahil karapatan nilang matuto, garantisado iyan dito sa QC, at hindi hadlang ang rehabilitasyon sa kanilang edukasyon,” she said.

(About 1,015 CICLs were helped by these programs from January to November 15. Because they have the right to learn, which is guaranteed here in QC, and rehabilitation is not an obstacle to their education.)

To date, the mayor noted that more than 700 CICLs are already enrolled in elementary and high school while 201 have already graduated.

Further, Belmonte said P9.4 million was allocated for the opening of Bahay Kalinga in Barangay N.S. Amoranto.

The Bahay Kalinga, according to the mayor, is a residential facility for children in need of special protection.

“Mula January hanggang November 15, may 190 na bata na, ang nasa protective custody nito. Dito, binibigyan natin sila ng masustansyang pagkain, medical assistance, at tinuturuan din sila sa ilalim ng ALS at Special Education,” she continued.

(From January to November 15, there are 190 children in its protective custody. Here, we give them healthy food and medical assistance, and also educate them under ALS and Special Education.)

Lastly, Belmonte said that the city government has Kabahagi Center, “a hub that provides free disability assessment and therapy interventions for children with disabilities”; and Tahanan, “a rehabilitation and treatment center for victims of substance abuse.” —KG, GMA Integrated News