In observance of the World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) on June 12, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ending child labor in the Philippines.
“We stand united with the whole government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to completely eradicate child labor. Child labor is a menace that robs children of their freedom, innocence, and fundamental rights. It also hinders the development of children to achieve their full potential,” Gatchalian stated in a message on Wednesday.
He emphasized the necessity for all sectors of society to collaborate in addressing this pressing issue. “We need to redouble our efforts through a whole-of-society approach to eliminate this concern. This includes strengthening our legal frameworks, providing comprehensive social welfare and development interventions, and ensuring that all families will be able to access decent work and livelihood,” he added.
The global theme for WDACL 2025, “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts,” aims to reflect both the progress achieved and the urgency to intensify action to meet global targets on child labor. To localize this theme, the National Council Against Child Labor (NCACL) adopted the slogan, “Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Mag-aaral ang Bata, Hindi Manggagawa (Under the New Philippine: Children will Study, Not Toil)!” emphasizing the country’s commitment to ending child labor and advancing every child’s right to education.
SHIELD Program
As Co-Chair of the NCACL, the DSWD implements the Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) program to provide holistic and immediate interventions at the community level for child laborers and their families.
Among the services offered by the DSWD are case management, educational assistance, cash aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and case referrals to other agencies.
From 2021 to 2024, the SHIELD Program assisted 12,193 child laborers, with 3,887 assessed to be free from any form of child labor and successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.
Last December, a lawmaker highlighted the 4Ps education grants as a contributing factor to the decline in the number of child laborers in the Philippines in 2023, according to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Gatchalian pledged to collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to innovate development programs that will help more Filipino children break free from the bonds of child labor. “Only through coordinated and sustained efforts can we create a world where no child is subjected to exploitation and every child can thrive in dignity and hope,” he concluded.
