September 4, 2007 – Award of Excellence from International Labor Organization – International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC) for a project implemented by the Bacolod City Gender and Development (GAD) Council to address child labor, particularly commercial and sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).

Linda Wirth, ILO Subregional Director for South-East Asia and the Pacific and Serenidad Lavador, Chief Technical Adviser for its Time-Bound Program lauded the GAD Council chaired by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue for formulating and implementing the action program entitled Combating Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in Bacolod City through Direct Action and Capacity Building.

The program was considered a best practice since it delivered high impact results towards the elimination of worst forms of child labor in the province of Negros Occidental.

The project as proposed by Batapa-Sigue led to a strong multi-agency effort capable of addressing child prostitution. This project aims to make the city’s primary body on child labor - the Local Council for the Protection of Children, truly effective in monitoring and taking action against the increase in the number of CSEC cases. Last month, about 106 children were provided with alternative education and counseling services, and about 30 parents were given skills training and livelihood interventions.

Two other action programs in Negros received an Award of Recognition as good practices, namely, Preventing Child Labor in Sugar Farms through Awareness-Raising, Educational Support and Livelihood Opportunities in the La Carlota City, Binalbagan and Isabela in Negros Occidental and in Passi City, Iloilo is implemented by the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) represented in by former congresswoman Edith Villanueva and Combatting Child Labor in the Sugar Industry through Skills Training of Children in Garment Production in the fifth district of Negros Occidental as implemented by the Independent Planters of BISCOM, Inc.

There are eight action programs in Western Visayas, which includes three in the Province of Iloilo, four in the Negros Occidental and one in Bacolod City, involving the local government units and various non-government organizations.

The program supported the organization of the inter-agency council against trafficking (IACAT) of Bacolod City and increased awareness especially children working under bonded or forced labor condition which lead to their actual rescue and reintegration into the mainstream. Because of the staunch support of partner groups, many would-be victims have been prevented from further abuse and exploitation.

Batapa-Sigue recommended the establishment and implementation a working protocol to integrate specific task and function as part of regular activities of stakeholders and in policy, programs and project development, including budget preparation and implementation.

In addition, Bacolod will soon have a Child Labor Monitoring System to serve as a vital tool to constantly monitor the problem and as basis for planning and decision-making and to strengthen networking and linkage especially with tri-media for public advocacy.

http://www2.sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2007/09/04/feat/ilo.ipec.gives.excellence.
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