DOLE Provides Emergency Employment and Livelihood Assistance to Over 32,000 in Antique in 2023

Antique – In 2023, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) extended significant assistance to families in Antique, including emergency employment for 32,211 families and livelihood aid for 112 parents of child laborers. Ma. Cecilia S. Acebuque, the officer-in-charge of DOLE Antique, discussed these efforts in an interview on Friday, highlighting the department’s commitment to social protection for vulnerable workers.

According to Philippines New Agency, the livelihood assistance was particularly targeted at parents of child laborers, enabling them to meet the educational needs of their children. The department allocated PHP2.4 million for various livelihood projects such as small convenience stores (sari-sari stores) and cattle-raising. This initiative was part of a broader effort to address the issue of child labor in the region.

DOLE conducted profiling of child laborers across several municipalities, identifying 42 child laborers in Culasi, 20 each in San Remigio and Bugasong, 12 in Tibiao, 10 in Laua-an, five in San Jose, and three in Patnongon. These children were often found assisting their parents in farming, fishing, and construction work.

In addition to livelihood support, DOLE allocated over PHP157.6 million for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program last year, benefiting 32,211 residents of Antique. The TUPAD program involved various community-based activities such as coastal and highway cleanup, community gardening, and tree planting.

Among the TUPAD beneficiaries were residents of the island Municipality of Caluya, who were displaced due to an oil spill in February. Acebuque expressed hopes for an increased budget in the coming year to expand the reach of their programs, further aiding parents of child laborers and increasing the number of TUPAD beneficiaries.