Mangagawang Kabataan,

Bantayan at

Protektahan!

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 SITUATION ANALYSIS

CHILD LABOR

“They are everywhere but invisible, toiling

as domestic servants in homes, laboring behind
the walls of workshops/factories, hidden from
view in sugarcane plantations, unsafe in the
production of pyrotechnics, collecting garbage
from households, risking their lives in the streets
selling newspapers and cigarettes, hopping from one jeepney to
another to wipe our shoes and beg for alms afterwards, experiencing
malnutrition, can be seen asleep in the coldness of the earth provided
with carton papers as their beds, paying their ancestors’ debts in some
big haciendas, working for their families in the rice farm, diving for
pearls in the ocean/seas of the archipelago, involved in mining and
quarrying in some places, demoralized and prostituted at young age…
-- (Ma’am Nancy, LPI Newsletter)

They aren’t worthy of these misfortunes. No one could ever

repay the children for sacrificing their childhood years just for work.

Child Labor refers to the illegal employment of children below 18

years of age in hazardous occupations. Underage children are being
forced to manual labor to help their families mainly due to poverty.
Labor has many ill effects in children who are supposed to be in the
environment of a classroom rather than roaming the streets to earn
money. Although most do get the privilege of education, most of them
end up being dropouts and repeaters because they are not able to

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focus on their studies. Because of child labor, children suffer from
malnutrition, hampered growth, and improper biological development.

CHILD WORK VERSUS CHILD LABOR

CHILD

Any person below 18 yrs. old except those emancipated by law.

a child refers to “a person below eighteen (18) years of age or one
who is over eighteen (18) but is unable to fully take care of or protect
himself/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition.”

CHILD WORK

Refers to the children’s participation in economic activity – that

does not negatively affect their health and development or interferes
with education, can be positive.

CHILD LABOR

is more narrowly defined and refers to children working in

contravention of the above standards. This means all children below 12
years old of age working in any economic activities, those aged 12 to
14 years engaged in harmful work, and all children engaged in the
worst forms of child labor.
-- (Managing an Education Initiative, ILO-IPEC)

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BONDED LABOR
This refers to the permission of some parents to have their
children into the toiling grounds to pay their debts with their
employers. -- (Ate Kat, LPI)
INTERNATIONAL STATE OF CHILD LABOR

Child Labor is most concentrated in Asia and Africa, which

together account for more than 90% of total children employment.
Though there are more child workers in Asia than anywhere else, a
higher percentage of African children participate in the labor force.
Asia is led by India, which has 44 million child laborers, diving it the
largest child workers are between the ages of 10 – 14 yrs. old (1991).
Nigeria has 12 million child workers. Child labor is also common in
South America. For example, there are 7 million children working in
Brazil (ILO 1992).

Though restrictions on child labor exist in most nations, many

children do work. This vulnerable state leaves them prone to
exploitation. The International Labour Office reports that children work
the longest hours and are the worst paid of all the laborers (Bequele
and Boyden 1988). They endure work conditions, which include health
hazards and potential abuse. Employers capitalize on the docility of the
children recognizing that these laborers cannot legally form unions to
change their conditions. Such manipulation stifles the development of
youth. Their working conditions do not provide the stimulation for
physical and mental development. Finally, these children are deprived
of the simple joys of childhood, relegated instead to a life of drudgery.
However, there are problems with the obvious solution of abolishing
child labor. First, there is no international agreement defining child

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labor. Countries not only have different minimum age work
restrictions, but also have varying regulations based on the type of
labor. This makes the limits of child labor very ambiguous. Most would
agree that a six year old is too young to work, but whether the same
can be said about a twelve year old is debatable.

Problems with the intuitive solution of immediately abolishing

child labor to prevent such abuse are first, there is no international
agreement defining labor, making it hard to isolate cases of abuse, let
alone abolish them. Second, many children may have to work in order
to attend school so abolishing child labor may only hinder their
education. Any plans of abolishment depend on schooling. Also, there
must be an economic change in the condition of a struggling family to
free a child from the responsibility of working.

Until there is global agreement, which can isolate cases of child

labor, it will be very hard to abolish. There is also the view that work
can help a child in terms of socialization, in building self – esteem and
for training (Collins 1983). The problem is, then, not child labor itself
but the conditions under which it operates (Boyden 1991).
-- (Google.com)

CHILD LABOR IN THE PHILIPPINE SETTING

The Philippines is literally a young nation with a high percentage

of young people in its overall population. And the child labor problem
in the Philippines is a serious one.

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 According to the National Statistics Office survey, there are
about 4 million working children in the country today.

Of the 4 million, 2.4 million are engaged in hazardous work,

which means that they are exposed to chemical, physical and
biological hazards. These are the children involved in the worst forms
of child labor such as prostitution, domestic work, mining and
quarrying, commercial agriculture, deep – sea fishing and pyrotechnics
production.
The following are the more salient figures in the survey:

•Four out of 25 million children, ages 5 – 17, are working. This

means that one out of 6 works
•Mostly male, elementary grader (between 10 – 17 years old),
usually rural – based
•Region IV has the highest incidence of child labor (12.5%); next is
region VI (11.8%); and Region XI (10.2%)
•Majority work as unskilled, unpaid, engaged in agriculture, on
seasonal basis laborers
•One of four children work during night time
•60% of working children, aged 5 – 17 years old are exposed to
hazardous environment.
•40% are elementary graduates; 32% reached high school; 3%
never attended school
•59% are unpaid, work in household – operated farm or business

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 •53% in agriculture / forestry / hunting

-- (CWC)

In Metro Manila and neighboring towns, most child laborers are

found in factories, livestock industries like poultry farms and piggery.
They often come from the provinces. In many cases, they live like
convicts, incarcerated and without the freedom of movement. Young
workers in the farm are made to sleep inside pigpen or poultry house
together with the animals.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, child labor is rampant in sugarcane,

pineapple, rubber, and asparagus plantations.

A significant number of child laborers can be found in sugar

plantations in Tarlac. These children are directly exposed to the
elements like the sun and rains, their growth is stunted because of the
heavy load they carry on their shoulders. Malnutrition is common
among child laborers.

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 Child labor, especially the hazardous kind is a scourge. It must be
eliminated at all cost, and the children must be saved from misery.
-- (LPI Newsletter)

Child Trafficking

Child trafficking is one of the reasons why child labor is rampant

in the Philippines. This is the process of recruitment, transportation,
transfer or harboring or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s
consent or knowledge, within or across the national boarders by
means of threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction,
fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of
the vulnerability of the person.
Here in the Philippines the most disadvantaged regions of the
country where poverty, unemployment, underemployment landless are
the natural target areas for the dishonorable recruitment agencies
Samar-Leyte, Negros, Bicol, Cebu Province, & Mindanao are the most
particular places where these agencies operate. To win the hearts of
the parents and the child, they use combination of deception, false
promises and cash incentives, for then Manila and other major cities
are symbols of success and opportunity. But as for the children, they
end up as factory workers, domestic servants, and victims of
prostitution on the streets.

The DSWD documented 85 cases of trafficked children in 1999;

42 in 2000; and 12 in June to April 2001.

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 Almost all of the profiled victims came from extremely poor
families from impoverished areas in Visayas and Mindanao. Many are
first timers in the city, often with only one-way ticket (Visayan Forum).

There still remains a lack of national baseline information on the

trafficking of Filipino children. Several factors that contribute to the
dearth of data on the issue are: the underground nature of trafficking;
the stigma placed on victims of sexual exploitation; the absence of a
law on trafficking that defines the acts; the lack of a name for the
problem in the community level and awareness of acts of trafficking as
violations of human rights, thus the low rate of reporting; and the
same lack of awareness among many government agencies and NGOs,
thus the few interventions and documentations of cases.

However, victims and the media report sporadically on cases of

trafficking. There are also qualitative studies on cases. The forms of
trafficking range from the trafficking of children to armed conflict
trafficking in the guise of employment, trafficking to sexual
exploitations and others.

While the victim is the one often seen in trafficking, there are
several actors, who exploit that have to be named – recruiter, pimp,
conniving airport officials, immigration officials, establishment owner in
destination areas, buyers, governments that consider overseas
migration as primary employment strategy, and governments that earn
from this industry.

Trafficking happens mainly in conjunction with prostitution. The

‘consent’ of the victim is immaterial. Gender inequality, racism and

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impoverishment of women are the core of the trafficking phenomenon.
There are conscious actors in trafficking, as named, that should be
held accountable for it as a crime.
-- (www.childprotection.org.ph)

Child Domestic Labor

Domestic child-laborers (DCLs) belong to a special

sub-sector of children that deserves special care and
attention. Pushed by poverty and lack of education,
these children sought to be employed in other people’s
households on starvation salaries in spite of working for
unbelievably long hours.

Away from their families and friends and isolated within

unfamiliar surroundings, DCLs are constantly exposed to the risk of
abuse and exploitation. The feeling of loneliness and helplessness
breed low esteem, a common malady of DCLs.

They know that if they can only continue their aborted

education, they would have a fair chance of improving their lot. And
some of them are eager to pursue their formal studies, but there are
real barriers to this goal.

For one, they can hardly find the time, energy and money to
realize this ambition. Odds are definitely stacked up against the DCLs.

A thin line separates a child who is currently “paaral” by an

Auntie or Uncle and one who is a DCL. The real barometer, however, is

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the nature and condition of work he or she provides to the current
family he or she lives with.

The following are the DCL indicators:

 The child performs repetitive tasks within specific period in a

day;
 The performance of the expected task is monitored by an adult
in the family;
 The child is given a small allowance or, in some cases, salary in
exchange for the tasks done;
 The child has a specified number of hours in school and he or
she has to be back in an appointed time. Normally, the number
of working hours is equal or longer than the number of study
hours;
 His/Her leisure hours are limited and is under strict control from
an adult member in the family;
-- (LPI)

“Domestic or household service” shall mean service in the employer’s

home which is usually necessary or desirable for the maintenance and
enjoyment thereof and includes ministering to the personal comfort
and convenience of the members of the employer’s household, includ-
ing services of family drivers. – labor code of the Philippines book III
title III chapter III article 141
-- (Labor Code of the Philippines)

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Street Child Labor

The following are the prominent figures that appeared from a study
conducted in Cubao, Quezon City:
• Mostly are boys, average age is 12-15 years old
• More than half of them are enrolled in public elementary school
• Almost all are living with their families, either on the streets
(street families) or in a rented room in one of the marginalized areas
within Cubao such as Escopa 3 and 4, 138 and 139 Ermin Garcia, 116
New York, Arayat, Harvard, along EDSA- Kamias and others.
• Average numbers of siblings are 4.
• Average years of staying in the street are 4-6 years, for 7-12
hours everyday.
• Primary reasons for staying in the streets: to work as barker,
vendor (sampaguita, yellow corn, roasted peanuts, etc.), baggage boy
at NEPA Q-Mart, errand boy of sidewalk vendors and neighbors; to
play and to hang-out with friends.

Priority Issues, Needs and Concerns…

• There are at least 30 teenaged chronic rugby sniffing street chil-

dren within the commercial district of Cubao who needs intensive re-
habilitation and after care program.
• There are at least 62 street families with an average of two chil-
dren each along the stretch along Aurora Boulevard alone starting
from 15th Avenue up to Balete Drive. This includes sidewalk vendors
who tag along children while vending.
• Working street children is growing in number especially in the
NEPA Q-Mart.

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• Scavenging, barking for FX Taxi, sidewalk vending which are the
main sources of income of street dwellers and families of community-
based street has been considered illegal by the government.
• Limited access of street children and their families to health and
sanitation services/facilities.
• Continuity and sustainability of spiritual development activities at
the community level.
• Play and recreational facilities and services limited to the com-
munity children.

As long as there would be informal settler colonies sprouting in

urban areas and for as long as there are not enough jobs, streetchil-
dren will continue to dominate the streets. -- (LPI)

FACTORS CAUSING THE PROBLEM OF CHILD LABOR

Poverty is the primary cause of child labor in the developing

countries like the Philippines. Children work to ensure the survival of
their family and themselves. Though children are not well paid, they
still serve as major contributors to family income in the developing
countries.

Children are often prompted to work by their parents. According to

one study, parents represent 62% of the source of induction into
employment. Children make their own decisions to work only 8% of
the time (Syed et. al. 1991). Children seem to be much less of an
economic burden in developing versus developed countries. Children in
developing countries also contribute more time to households than
they deplete as compared to their counterparts in developed countries

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(Lindert 1976). Therefore, parents in developing countries make use of
children’s ability to work. Evidence suggests that parents have children
based on a cost – benefit perspective. Children in developing countries
tend to be of economic value and, as a result, become a desirable
asset for struggling parents. This desire also leads to the increase of
the population that is also one of the factors causing child labor.

Family structure

If one of the child’s parents were already deceased and they are
having financial problems or if they were separated and the child
doesn’t receive any money, the tendency for that child is to find a way
to earn additional income for them to survive and also this is a way for
him/her to continue studying.

If the parents were both deceased, the child would end up with his/her
relatives and could lead to child domestic labor. He would be
vulnerable to abuse because he lacks protection from his parents.

Schooling problems also contribute to

child labor. If children are willing to be
educated, they have no choice but to work
for this is the only source of their money to
send themselves to schools. Many times
children seek employment because there is
no access to schools possibly because of
the distance or worse yet there are no
schools at all. When there is access, the
low quality of the education often makes

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attendance a waste of time for the students. Schools in many
developing areas suffer from problems such as overcrowding, lack of
resources, inadequate sanitation and pathetic teachers. As a result,
parents may find no use of sending their children to school when they
could be home learning a skill, farming for example and supplementing
the family income. Because parents have so much control over their
children, their perception of the value of school is a main determinant
of child attendance. Parents who are educated understand for
themselves the importance of schooling from personal experience.
School attendance by a child is also highly correlated with family
income. Therefore, when children drop out of school, it is not
necessarily because of irresponsible parenting; it may be due to the
family’s financial situation. When these children leave school, they
become potential workers.

Traditional factors are also important. The established female

role in certain cultures dictates that women will not fit into traditional
roles if they become educated. Such cultural practices restrict the
education of females and promote child employment. The acceptance
of social class participation perpetuates child labor as well.

Parents often assign different roles into their children. This has
been called child specialization, and may increase the number of
working children. This phenomenon involves certain siblings going to
school while the others work.

Rapid rural – to – urban migration is the cause for the

increasing rate of child labor in the urban areas of the developing
countries. Families leave the severity of agricultural working conditions

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for cities in order to search for economic opportunities that often do
not exist.

Unchecked growth of population – rapid growth of population

adds up to the enormous number of working children here in the
Philippines. Parents keep on having children who would then be
working for the family just to have some food on their table during
meals and feed their empty stomachs.

Another problem is with the complete abolition of child labor

is that education and employment for children are not mutually
exclusive. Many children work and go to school. In fact, many children
have to work to go to school; otherwise, they could not afford the
tuition and other fees associated with attendance.

Hazards to Health

Poor nutrition

Because of the long-hours of working, many child laborers miss

their time to eat, because they prefer to work more, than to rest and
stop working for a while to take their meal.

Death

This is the worst thing that may happen to a child laborer. An ex-
ample of a dangerous job for a child to work for is a pyrotechnic fact-
ory. And one of the reasons that might cause death to the child is the
explosion of the factory that he works for.

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High prevalence of respiratory diseases

Because of the hard work that is demanded by the work he has,

they are being deprived for enough hours of sleep. As a result of this,
their body resistance will be weakened and so as their pulmonary or-
gan. And if this happens, complications such as Tuberculosis might
take place.

Sexually transmitted diseases

These days, even children aged 15 is being prostituted. And

since their young, they are vulnerable of being abused sexually. Thus,
by having these unsafe intercourses, they might acquire transmitted
infectious and diseases through sex.

Physical Health Hazards

Since child laborers work without proper work attire, the children
have high-risk of having wounds, bruises and cuts.

Anti- Social Behavior

Having an idea that child laborers work for someone makes them
feel ashamed. That’s why they are uncomfortable and intimidated to
people who surrounds them for they think that they might get discrim-
inated.
-- (Handling Worst Forms of Child Labor, The SBM Approach)

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International and Local Standards and Programs

The Convention on the rights of the child

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child sets

out what governments and individuals should do to promote and
protect the indivisible human rights of all children

Unanimously adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November

1989, it has since been ratified by all the world’s governments, except
Somalia and the United States of America.

Ratification means that governments commit themselves to

ensuring that children can grow up in safe and supportive conditions,
with access to high quality education and health care, and a good
standard of living.

It means governments agree to protect children from

discrimination, sexual and commercial exploitation and violence, and
to take particular care of orphans and young refugees.

It is also an acknowledgement that children have the right:

• To express opinions, especially about decisions that affect them:

• To freedom of thought; expression, conscience and religion;
• To a private life and the right to play;
• To form their own clubs and organizations;

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 • To have access to information – particularly from the state and
the media;
• To make ideas and information known themselves.

The convention provides a benchmark against which the efforts of

each government to improve the lives of the children can be
measured.

Every five years, governments must report to the UN Committee

on the Rights of the Child.
The Committee reviews their progress, meets with government
representatives and listeners to the views of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), before making recommendations about how
each country could do better.

Enlisted below are the following articles with relevance to the issue on
labor, trafficking, and education for children:
UN-CRC Art.28 Children have the right to education
UN-CRC Art.32 Children have the right to protection from work that
is bad for your health or education.
UN-CRC Art.34 Children have the right to be protected from sexual
abuse.
UN-CRC Art.35 No one is allowed to kidnap or sell children.
UN-CRC Art.36 Children have the right to protection from any other
kind of exploitation.
UN-CRC Art.41 Children have the right to any rights in laws in your
country or internationally that give you better rights
than these.

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UN-CRC Art.42 All adults and children should know about this
convention. You have a right to learn about your
rights and adults should learn about them too.
-- (The Media and Children’s Rights)

INTERNATIONAL LABOR OFFICE

The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency

which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally
recognized human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and is the
only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles which brought
the League of Nations into being and it became the first specialized
agency of the UN in 1946.

The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of

Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of
basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize,
collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity
and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the
entire spectrum of work related issues. It provides technical assistance
primarily in the fields of:
• vocational training and vocational rehabilitation;
• employment policy;
• labour administration;
• labour law and industrial relations;
• working conditions;
• management development;
• cooperatives;
• social security;

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• labour statistics and occupational safety and health.

It promotes the development of independent employers’ and

workers’ organizations and provides training and advisory services to
those organizations. Within the UN system, the ILO has a unique
tripartite structure with workers and employers participating as equal
partners with governments in the work of its governing organs.
-- (For Children Who Toil)

RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON CHILD

LABOR

Of the 16 international conventions related to child labor, the

Philippines have ratified 4. These are as follows:

ILO Convention No.59 (“Minimum age for admission of children to

industrial employment’). Ratified in May 1960, the Convention sets the
minimum age for employment in industry at 15 years but allows
children under 15 to be employed in under takings where only family
members are employed, but only if such work is free from risk to the
life, health, or morals of children (Art.2).
ILO Convention No.77 (‘Medical examination for fitness for
employment in industry of children and young persons”). Also ratified
in May 1960, the Convention requires the medical examinations of
children prior to employment and continuous examinations after that,
and includes the medical examination guidelines for the different kinds
of work done by children.

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ILO Convention No.90 (“Night work of young persons employed in
industry”). Ratified in May 1953, the Convention bans the employment
of children in industry at night or the duration of work of at least 12
consecutive hours, including the interval of at least 7 consecutive
hours, from ten in the evening to seven in the morning, for children
aged between 16 and 8 years (Art.2).

ILO Convention No.138 (“Minimum age for admission to

employment”). The campaign to build a broad support for the
Convention’s ratification was spearheaded by both government
agencies and NGOs. This grounds well of support inspired Congress to
briskly ratify Convention once it came to a vote. ILO-IPEC and its
partners in the Philippines played a key role in the advocacy not only
for the ratification of the Convention but also for the passage of more
child sensitive laws, especially those concerning child labor. A most
recent focus of ILO-IPEC partners and other anti-child labor advocates
was the Global March Against Child Labour held in January 1998. The
Asian side of the March was launched in the Philippines, and marchers
would meet those from other parts of the world in Geneva in June
1998. Throughout 1997, several conventions and conferences around
the world discussed the interests and states of child laborers, and
prepared for the final meeting of representatives from various
countries in June 1998 to agree on the eradication of child labor.
Ratified in October 1997, the Convention focuses on setting a standard
minimum age for all circumstances, having in view the terms of
previous conventions covering minimum age in specific industries or
sectors. These are the Conventions on the Minimum Age for industry
(approved by ILO in 1919); sea (1920 and revised in 1936);
agriculture (1921); trimmers and stokers (1932); nonindustrial

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employment (revised in 1937); fishermen (1959); and underground
work (1965).
-- (For Children Who Toil)

ILO-INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON THE ELIMINATION OF

CHILD LABOR

The IPEC Philippine programme has contributed significantly in

initiating, energizing and mobilizing action against child labor in the
Philippines. Its impact must be seen less in the high visibility of the
programme itself, but rather in the new strength of its government and
non-government partners in leading the campaign for professional and
committed action in the campaign against child labor.

The Philippine government ratified ILO Convention 138 in the

latter part of 1997, setting the country’s minimum age of entry to
employment at 15. This represents a major step forward in laying the
basis for the fuller enforcement of the long-standing Philippine
jurisprudence on child labor. The ratification process itself was a
demonstration of the newly found strength of the multi-sectoral
alliances campaigning against child labor in the country.

The Government of the Philippines and the International Labour

Organization formalized a Memorandum of Understanding on the
implementation of ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of
Child Labour (IPEC).

From its very inception, the IPEC programme has kept its focus
on priority groups of children identified in the Philippine-ILO Indicative

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Framework for Action. The priority target groups of children are the
child victims of trafficking, children in mining and quarrying, children in
home-based enterprises, especially under sub-contracting
arrangements, children trapped in prostitution, children in domestic
service, children in deep sea diving and fishing, and children in
commercial plantation agriculture, including sugar and vegetable
production.

Seven Point Strategy for Action

IPEC outlined its priorities in a seven-point plan for action. These

include:

1. Mainstreaming of the issue of child labour and child protection as

important policy issues at the national, regional and provincial
levels;
2. National media and advocacy campaign;
3. Formulation of a legislative agenda, including the ratification of
relevant ILO child labour conventions;
4. Expansion of direct programme services: removal and
elimination of child labour in hazardous and exploitative work
and the immediate protection of working children. The areas of
action are in prevention, removal, rehabilitation and recovey
services, as well as the delivery of protective education and
health services;
5. Broadening of the social alliances;
6. Professional and technical capability building;

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 7. Strengthened management and coordination of child labour
programmes.

While there have been no subsequent tests on awareness levels on

child labour, the question on hazardous undertakings revealed that
there has been significant rise in levels of awareness of hazardous
work for children. Important increases are registered in Visayas and
Mindanao, both of which have a high incidence of child labour.

Article I, Presidential Decree 603

THE CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE CODE OF 1974

The Child is one of the most important assets of the nation.

Every effort should be exerted to promote his welfare and enhance his
opportunities for a useful and happy life.

The child is not a mere creature of the State. Hence, his

individual traits and aptitudes should be cultivated to the utmost
insofar as they do not conflict with the general welfare.

The molding of the character of the child starts at the home.

Consequently, every member of the family should strive to make the
home a wholesome and harmonious place as its atmosphere and
conditions will greatly influence the child's development.
Attachment to the home and strong family ties should be
encouraged but not to the extent of making the home isolated and

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exclusive and unconcerned with the interests of the community and
the country.

The natural right and duty of parents in the rearing of the child
for civic efficiency should receive the aid and support of the
government.
Other institutions, like the school, the church, the guild and the
community in general, should assist the home and the State in the
endeavor to prepare the child for the responsibilities of adulthood.
-- (Phil. Nat’l. Strategic Framework for Plan Dev’t. for Children, 2000-
2025, Child 21 )

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9231

An act providing for the elimination of the worst forms of Child
Labor and affording stronger protection for the working child,
amending for this purpose republic act no.7610. As amended,
otherwise known as the “special protection of Children against
child abuse, exploitation and discrimination act”.

Declared to provide special protection on children from all forms

of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination and other
prejudicial to their environment including child labor and its worst
forms; provide sanctions for their commission and carry out a program
for prevention and deterrence of and crisis intervention in situation of
child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

Exemption of employment for children below 15yrs. old

• Child works directly under the sole responsibility of their parents

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 • Parents permit their children to work in entertainment or
information through cinema, television, radio, magazines, etc.

Hours of work of a working child:

• 15 years of age - maximum of 20 hours/wk

• 15 years but below 18 years – maximum of 40 hours/wk
-- (Laws and Issuances on Children II)

Quezon City Ordinance

Prohibiting the father, mother, natural or legal guardian of a child,

ward or any person to allow or tolerate, knowingly or unknowingly said
child, ward or any person under his/her custody or guardianship to
ask, solicit, or otherwise beg for alms, donations, contributions or any
act of mendicancy from anybody in public streets, parks, playground
or any public places and providing penalties thereof;
-- (CWC)

On Child Trafficking

REPUBLIC ACT 9208

"ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ACT OF 2003,"

Deems it unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to commit any of

the following acts:

27
(a) To recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, provide, or receive a person
by any means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or
overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of
prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery,
involuntary servitude or debt bondage;

(b) To introduce or match for money, profit, or material, economic or

other consideration, any person or, as provided for under Republic Act
No. 6955, any Filipino woman to a foreign national, for marriage for
the purpose of acquiring, buying, offering, selling or trading him/her to
engage in prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor,
slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage;

(c) To offer or contract marriage, real or simulated, for the purpose of

acquiring, buying, offering, selling, or trading them to engage in
prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor or slavery,
involuntary servitude or debt bondage;

(d) To undertake or organize tours and travel plans consisting of

tourism packages or activities for the purpose of utilizing and offering
persons for prostitution, pornography or sexual exploitation;

(e) To maintain or hire a person to engage in prostitution or

pornography;

(f) To adopt or facilitate the adoption of persons for the purpose of

prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced-labor, slavery,
involuntary servitude or debt bondage (bonded labor).
-- (Primer R.A. 9208)

28
REPUBLIC ACT.8371
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT OF 1997

It recognizes the vital role of children of indigenous peoples in nation –

building and supports mechanisms to protect their right. Specifically, it
addresses the emerging problem of child – recruitment in rebel – in-
fested areas of the Philippines.
-- (Phil. Nat’l. Strategic Framework for Plan Dev’t. for Children, 2000-
2025, Child 21 )

Laws On Child Domestic Labor

Senate Bill 1771:

Senator Jinggoy Estrada proposed the Senate Bill 1771 that gives
protection to Child Domestic Laborers against any kind of abuse; it is
supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Visayan
Forum (VF) and many other Non Government Organizations (NGO’s)
by founding an association to train Domestic Laborers in doing house
chores and conducting seminars that could help in the improvement
and development of their personality.
-- (LPI)

29
On Street Child Labor

House Bill No. 519, entitled:

“AN ACT ESTABLISHING CENTERS FOR STREET CHILDREN IN

EVERY REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR” By Representative Antonino-Custodio
-- (Google.com)
Projects for the community in Cubao, Quezon City

- Voluntary drug treatment and rehabilitation by Help Int’l

- Street visitation and counseling by Christian Compassion Minis-
tries
- Residential care/group homes by CCM, Mabuhay Christian Home,
Help Int’l, & Kuya Drop-in Movement
- “Rescue” operation by the government
- Referral/coordination with CPTSA & Int’l Justice Mission for psy-
cho-social & legal interventions for victims of abuse & exploita-
tion
- Training & organizing of community leaders/volunteers for the
protection of children by LPIDaycare and child minding center for
pre-school street children by Street Dwellers Outreach Ministries
& Lingap Pangkabataan
- Church-based evangelistic outreach ministries by SDOM & CCM
- Educational assistance by CCM, LPI, & SDOM
- Alternative learning system by LPI
- Livelihood projects by CCM
- Life-skills sessions by LPI

30
 - Organizing of children’s advocacy group

• Master listing of all street children & other children at risk includ-
ing their families
• Resource mapping
• Regular inter-agency meeting, consultation, dialogues & com-
munity assemblies
• Setting up a joint management team
• Conducting local networks projects/activities, advocacy, socio-
cultural development
• Coming up with a referral system & agreements to ensure that
the children & their families receive the needed action and ser-
vices
• Organization of CCPI clusters at the barangay level to be eventu-
ally recognized as the original BCPC at the barangay level and be
an active member of it. -- (LPI)

On Education
R.A. 7323

Help poor but deserving students pursue their education by

encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas
vacations. Through incentives granted to employers, allowing them to
pay only sixty per centum of their salaries or wages and the forty per
centum through education vouchers to be paid by the government
prohibiting and penalizing the filing of fraudulent or fictitious claims
and for other purposes
-- (CWC)

31
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 275

In February 1996, President Ramos issued Executive Order

No.275 that creates the “Special Committee for the Protection of
Children”. This order aimed to consolidate the assessment, monitoring
and implementation of the State’s policy of protecting children from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and
other conditions prejudicial to their development.
-- (Initiating and Mobilizing Action Against Child Labor in the Phils. ,
1995-1997)

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 356

RENAMING THE BUREAU OF NONFORMAL EDUCATION TO BUR-
EAU OF ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM

WHEREAS, it is a declared State policy, "to protect and promote the

right of all citizen to quality basic education and to promote the right
of all citizens to quality basic education and such education accessible
to all by providing all Filipino children in the elementary level and free
education in the high school level. Such education shall also include al-
ternative learning system for out-of school youth and adult learners."
(Section 2 of PA. 9155, The Governance of Basic Education Act of
2001)
-- (Laws and Issuances on Children II)

National Program Against Child Labor (NPACL)

32
NPACL is being implemented by these groups with the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE) as lead with the support of the ILO-
IPEC and the United Nations Children’s Fund-Manila (UNICEF-Manila).
The approaches of the program are mainly on preventive, protective
and rehabilitative strategies that are particular to child laborers
exposed to trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, slavery/bonded
labor and other forms of hazardous work. These involve identifying and
master listing of child laborers, identifying of risk factors in the
community and the family, legislation and enforcement of policies,
support for basic education, advocacy and social mobilization, and
child participation.

The NPACL has implemented some endeavors namely:

a. Sagip Batang Manggagawa (Save Child Laborer) Project;
b. Inspection/Enforcement;
c. Provision of protective custody, temporary shelter, and alternat-
ive parental care;
d. Organization of barangay councils for the protection for children
BCPCs;
e. Mobilization of community volunteers;
f. Conducting parent effectiveness services (PES); and
g. More response from trade unions.

Despite of their efforts, the NPACL and other initiatives still have gaps
to fill. They still need to identify and articulate the problems
encountered in the implementation of their various interventions and
to discuss unresolved issues and dilemmas. Among these that require
further efforts are:

33
 a. successful prosecution of child labor cases;
b. Establishment of rehabilitative centers at the regional and com-
munity levels;
c. Provision of integrated services at the local level through active
participation of the local government units, the church groups,
people's organizations and other service-oriented institutions;
d. Monitoring mechanisms and tools in the implementation of ser-
vices to child laborers and their families; and
e. The need to develop, implementation and maintain more innov-
ative/alternative education programs for working children and
the need to provide more capability training programs for school
teachers/administrators handling working children.

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS

Lack of Awareness

The government has numerous projects on child labor, but the

communities aren’t aware of these. The audience doesn’t even know
any project in their community that has relevance with child labor. A
survey conducted also shows that the audiences have only little
knowledge about the NGO based on their area.

Lack of participation

They may find it less interesting and/or frightening to attend

seminars with regards to the issue, they could not help but be suspi-

34
cious, wary that the information they give might eventually incriminate
them.
They are afraid to participate because they are thinking that if
they are guilty of violating children’s rights, they might get into jail.

They think that it will just be a waste of time for them to parti-
cipate in any program. Excuses were given like “I’m so busy”, “I don’t
know the place”, and “I’m busy with my kids”

Lack of determination

They accept the fact that it is not right for their children to work
but they have no choice but to let their children work for a living.

The children were afraid that if they will stop from working their
parents would be mad at them.

Communication objectives

1. To be aware that is not right for a child to work at an early age,

because they should be enjoying their childhood.

2. To be informed that there are alternative ways for their children

not to work at an early age.

3. To experience the happiness of being a child.

35
 4. To persuade the parents to prevent their child from working.

Baseline

The group a baseline study aiming to generate basic opinion and

knowledge of Brgy. E. Rodriguez residents on CDL, CL and CT.

Table 1. Do u have any knowledge about any program for these?

Category f %
CDL 27 27%
CL 46 46%
CT 24 24%
None 44 44%

Out of 100 respondents from Barangay E. Rodriguez, 44% doesn’t

have any idea about the programs for CDL, CL and CT.56% of the
respondents had multiple answers. 46% said that they have
knowledge about child labor, 27% of them said that they know
something about child domestic labor. 24% said that they knew
programs for child trafficking.

Most of the respondents in Brgy. E. Rodriguez doesn’t have any

knowledge about the programs for CDL, CL and CT.

Table 2. Who or what is your source about the issue of child labor?
Category F %
Parents 17 17%
Friends/ peers 14 14%
Neighbors 20 20%
Newspapers 32 32%
Internet 4 4%
Seminars 5 5%

36
Television/radio 63 63%
Others 22 22%
No answers 11 11%

Out of 100 respondents from Barangay E. Rodriguez, 63% said that

their source is the television /radio, 32% said that it came from
newspapers, 22% had answered others (e.g. observations), 20% said
that it’s from their neighbors, 17% said that it’s from their parents,
14% said its from their friends/ peers, 5% said it’s from seminars that
they had attended, 4% said that it’s from the internet and 11% had no
answers.

Based from this baseline, the respondents mostly got their information
and knowledge about CL, CDL, and CT through television and radio.

Table 3. Are there projects, rules and programs for minors

implemented in your community?
Category f %
Yes, there is 43 43%
None 56 65%
Undecided 1 1%

Out of 100 respondents, 56% said that there are no rules, projects
and programs implemented in their community for minors. 43% said
that there are, and 1% doesn’t know about it.

Table 4. Do you know any institutions, agencies or NGOs that has

projects for child labor?
Category f %
Yes, I do 62 62%
None 38 38%

37
Out of 100 respondents 62% of them said that they don’t know any
institutions, agencies or NGOs that’s implementing projects for child
labor and 38% said that they have (e.g. LPI).
Table 5. How will you cooperate in our campaign for the issue of child
labor?
Category F %
Financial assistance 10 10%
Food assistance 18 18%
Help to fix the venue 35 35%
Join the activities 40 40%
Volunteer 57 57%
No answers 5 5%

Out of 100 respondents they had multiple answers, 57% agreed to be

volunteers on implementing the activities/ programs, 40 % will join
the activities, 35% will help fix/ arrange the venue, 18% will assist in
means of food, 10% will give financial assistance, 5% had no answer.

CDL PROFILE AS OF 2006

One year ago Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. started its CDL Program.
There are now 101 Child Domestic Laborers being served and catered
by this program. The CDL program is assisted by US Department of
Labor through the Winrock International’s Community-Based
Innovations to Reduce Child Labor through Education (CIRCLE)
initiative.

Socio-Demographic Profile
SEX
Almost three-fourths of the Child domestic Laborers involved in
the program are females (75) while the rest (26) are males (see Table
1).

38
 Table 1. Sex
Category f %
Male 26 25.7
Female 75 74.3
TOTAL 101 100.0

This could be due to the nature of the work that these children
provide for their employees, which are mostly household chores. Being
a domestic worker, they do all household chores, including cooking and
washing clothes for males. A male child recounted,

“Kasi, since maraming mga pinsan ko kasi ilan po ba

kami dun, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... 13 po kami lahat sa bahay
eh! Thirteen...maglalaba po ako ng mga damit kahit konti
lang.” --- Zenki, 17

However, some of the male participants do other work from females

aside from household chores. A child said that he was already used to
working even when he was still in the province. He narrated,
“Kasi po nagtrabaho din po ako sa probinsiya namin e.
Grade 5 po ako nung nagbubuhat po kami ng mga coco
lumber. Ewan ko kung bakit ako pumayat. Malaki dati
katawan ko eh. Nagbubuhat po kami ng coco lumber tapos
nagbabantay po ako ng... ano po dun pa sa may coco
lumber
shop pa yung mga buko-buko. Tapos taga-tulak po para
mahiwa. Yun, yun pa po yung ginagawa ko. Naglalaba po
ako ng damit ng mga kapatid ko kasi maliliit pa po mga
kapatid
ko eh.” --- Zenki, 17

AGE

39
 As of May 2006, the ages of the child domestic laborers in the
program range from 13 to 17 years old. There were 69 respondents
who are fifteen years old and above – seventeen years old (26
respondents), sixteen years old (22 respondents) and fifteen years old
(21 respondents). On the other hand, there were 32 respondents who
are thirteen and fourteen years old – 18 and 14 respondents –
respectively (see Table 2).

Table 2. Age
Category f %
Thirteen 18 17.8
Fourteen 14 13.9
Fifteen 21 20.8
Sixteen 22 21.8
Seventeen 26 25.7
TOTAL 101 100.0

PLACE of ORIGIN

Most of the respondents are originally from Luzon (64%),

namely Ilocos Region (4%), Southern Tagalog (20%), Central Luzon
(10%) and Bicol Region (11%). At the same time, only a small
percentage come from the Visayas (13%), namely Region 6 (5%),
Region 7 (2%) and Region 8 (5%). Only a handful of respondents are
from Mindanao (see Table 3).

Table 3. Region of Origin

Category f %
Region 1 4 4.0
Region 2 7 6.9

40
 Region 3 9 8.9
Region 4 20 19.8
Region 5 11 10.9
Region 6 5 5.0
Region 7 2 2.0
Region 8 6 5.9
Region 9 1 1.0
Region 10 2 2.0
Region 11 1 1.0
Region 12 1 1.0
Region 13 1 1.0
CAR 1 1.0
NCR 13 12.9
ARMM 1 1.0
Not Stated 16 15.8
TOTAL 101 100.0

Most of the children left their families in their own provinces.

Some of the children attested that it was their parents who sent them
in the city to work, for them to continue their studies.

Family Background

STATUS of PARENTS’ MARRIAGE

Although majority of the children involved in the program (55%)

have intact parents, there are also 16% of them whose parents were
already separated. It can be seen that a fourth of the children have
either deceased parents – father (12%), mother (2%) – or both (6%).
Other cases include being abandoned by parents or not knowing
his/her parents at all (see Table 4).

Table 4. Status of Family

Marriage

41
 f %
beaten by
1 1.5
adoptive parents
both parents
4 6.2
deceased
father deceased 8 12.3
mother
1 1.5
deceased
father
1 1.5
abandoned
father unknown 2 3.1
father unknown,
mother 1 1.5
deceased
Intact 34 52.3
Separated 10 15.4
separated,
mother 1 1.5
remarried
TOTAL 101 100.0

On the other hand, one of the strong reasons why CDLs accept
domestic jobs is because one of their parents died. This implied that
some of the cases of CDLs handled by Lingap were only due to the fact
that even at an early age, a child had to fill up some of the working
obligations of the deceased parent to his/her family. A female child
when asked how long had she been helping her mother in her laundry
work said,
“Am, simula po nung namatay ang tatay ko… …Nung
August 2005 po.” --- chuchay, 13
Again, another reason was when parents separate. This was
what happened to one of the children under the program which she

42
had to work separately, since her mother remarried and already had
another family, after being separated with his father.

NUMBER of SIBLINGS

Most of the respondents’ (77) numbers of siblings range from

two to six, in which this is almost equally divided among these
numbers. There were 17 who had two siblings, 16 who had five
siblings in their families. At the same time, there were equal number
of children who had three and four siblings (15 responses each) (see
Table 5).

Table 5. Number of
Siblings
f %
None 6 5.9
One 5 5.0
Two 17 16.8
Three 15 14.9
Four 15 14.9
Five 16 15.8
Six 14 13.9
Seven 7 6.9
Eight 5 5.0
Nine 1 1.0
TOTAL 101

It is true that children who had many siblings go to this job more
often than not since, aside from their parents, they also had to help in
the family’s finances. A discussant said,

43
 “Uhmm, kasi po para matulungan ko din po yung mother
ko. Kasi
siya lang po yung nagtatrabaho sa amin. Tapos, marami
po kaming
magkapatid dito. Tapos, kami lang yung dalawang
nagtutulungan
para may trabaho.” --- Rita, 16

Due to the cost of living these days, there were instances

wherein they had to take the burden of providing help for the family
through working to other people. There were also some children who,
due to the fact that some of their siblings were already working, they
don’t have a choice but to also do the same. A female child said,

“Si Kuya parang ano po siya, parang sa construction. Nag-

aayos
ng mga...ano ba yun.. yung mga escalator ganun po.
Tapos yung
isa ko pong kapatid… katulong din po siya sa ibang ano.
Tapos
si Ate ko... Jonalyn, may trabaho po siyang iba kasi may
anak
na siya. Binubuhay po niya.”
--Zathurna

Domestic Labor

RELATIONSHIP to EMPLOYER

Of the 101 total respondents, almost half of them stated that

their employers were not closely related to them, while 39 said that
they are working and living with their relatives (see Table 6)

Table 6. Children’s
Relationship to

44
 Employer
Relationship
f %
to Employer
Related 39 38.6
Non-related 50 49.5
Not Stated 12 11.9
Total 101 100.0

Some of the participants who are living with their relatives said
they are sent to Manila by their own parents and left them to close
friends/relatives like tito, tita or lola.

Others who worked for people they are not related with said they
were also sent to work for them, since these people would help them
get through their studies. A child also said,

“Pinakilala sa akin ng tatay ko. Tapos sabi po sa akin

dadalhin
daw po ako sa Maynila. Tapos po pumunta po kami
ng...Basta
po nag-iikot-ikot muna kami dito, nagpunta ng Blumentritt
para
magtinda lang po kami ng orchids, pagdating po dun sa
Cavite,
sa Bacoor po...Pinag-alaga niya po ako ng anak niya,
yung
disable. Ako po nag-alaga nun. Bago po ako dinala ni Ate
Marlyn
dun sa Tita ko.”
--- Zenki, 17

WORK HAZARDS

45
 Deprivation of sleep was the most common hazard that the child
domestic laborers reported. Almost one out of four of the children in
the program experience excessive hours of work (24%). The children
have to wake up early to start their chores. A total of eight
respondents reported that they are prohibited to attend school by their
employer. Less than 1/3 of the children have reported “no” work
hazards (see Table 7).

Table 7. Work Hazards

MR*
Category F %
Excessive hours of 30 24.0
work
Prohibition to 8 6.4
attend to school
Deprived of sleep 34 27.2
Hazardous jobs 2 1.6
Others 8 6.4
None 38 30.4
Not Stated 5 4.0
*n=125

The CDLs usually do a lot of household chores, whether they are

related or not with the persons they are staying with. One discussant
enumerated the things she usually do everyday,

“Naglilinis ng bahay, nagwawalis, nag-aayos ng mga

gamit-
gamit. Ano, pinupunasan yung mga displays. Eto rin
naglalaba
kapag weekends… … “Tapos naghuhugas ng plato, araw,
tanghali, tsaka gabi… “ --- arielle, 14

46
 Furthermore, another participant recounted his daily tasks in the
house with the exact time when he does everything. According to him,
he usually foregoes his personal needs and prioritizes the household
chores everyday.

“Pag 5...5:30 kasi ako gumigising ng umaga. Tapos pag

5:30,
di muna ako maghihilamos, di muna ako magsisipilyo,
liligpitin
ko muna yung mga pinaghigaan ko. . Tapos, bago ako
magsipilyo
tsaka maglinis ng katawan, pinupunasan ko muna ‘tong
ano namin.”
--- dodong, 17

Most of the time though, even at weekends, some of the CDLs

still had to work instead of rest. One FGD participant said,

“Tapos po, pagka-yung Sabado, naglalaba ako ng mga ano

nila.
Tapos naglilinis din ng mga bakuran nila tapos ano,
naglilinis ng
bahay. Tapos pag Linggo naman po, nagpaplantsa naman
ako.
Yun lang po.” --- Chuchay, 16

Such schedule made them literally busy and deprived of rest and
sleep. Some of them had to wake up early everyday and go to bed late
at night only after they’ve finished their household duties. Only this
time can they finally rest and do their assignments in school.

“Tapos po 8 magpapahinga na po ako nun, hinihintay ko

na ang
alas-dose, alas-dose na po kasi ako natutulog hinihintay
ko na
lang po kung may iuutos pa tapos bago po ako matulog.”
--- Krung-krung, 17

47
FREE TIME

The Child Domestic Laborers usually had their rest and recre-
ation after having finished all their tasks for the day. However, some of
them only have their day-offs from work once or twice in one month.
Some of the participants in the FGD said that,

“Bale yung pinaka-free time ko gabi na po yun, pag nano-

nood ng
TV...yun lang. Tapos pag tinatamad naman po ako ng TV,
nagbabasa na lang po ako o kaya nakikipagkwentuhan ako
sa
kaibigan ko.” --- ketchup, 16

“Tapos, maghihilamos na po ako. 7:30 po pupunta na po

ako sa
manukan, mapapakain na po kami ng manok, magpapa-
ligo tapos
pagtapos po niyan, 9 na po ako lalabas...magbabasketball
na po ako,
maglalaro na po. Tapos pagdating po ng 10, manonood na
po ako
ng TV.” --- Mayo, 15

“Mga bandang, pag natapos ko na po lahat ng gawain sa

bahay,
pwede na po akong maglaro. Tapos yun, pupunta sa mga
kaibigan
pag bandang hapon na po, tapos yun. Yun lang po gawain
ko.”

--- boy astig, 16

SALARY in a MONTH

48
 Out of the whole CDL respondents, almost a third of them stated
that they earn from P501 to 1000 pesos in a month. At the same time,
there were 18 respondents who said they are getting below 500 pesos,
while 14 said they are getting 1001 to 1500 pesos every month of
work. It is notable that only one child receives a salary of 3,000 pesos.
The average salary of the Child Domestic Laborers is from 501 to 1000
pesos (see Table 8).

Table 8. Income CDL

Income in
f %
Pesos
500 and Below 18 17.8
501 – 1000 32 31.7
1001 – 1500 14 13.9
1501 – 2000 6 5.9
2001 – 2005 5 5.0
2501 – 3000 1 1.0
Not Stated 25 24.8
TOTAL 101 100.0

Among the respondents who stated their salaries, 16 of the

respondents who earn between the average salary which is from 501
to 1000 pesos, said they are related to their employees as opposed to
13 who stated they are not related to their employees. Cross
tabulating children’s relationship with their employer by their salaries
in a month, it is evident that the number of children decreases as the
salaries increase, whether they related or not to their employers. It
can be also noted that almost one fourth of the respondents did not
state their salaries, which is considerably a large percentage already
(see Table 9).

49
 Table 9. Salary Month by Relationship to
Employer
Relationship to
Employer
Salary in Pesos Non- Not
Related
related Stated
f % f % F %
500 and Below 8 7.9 9 8.9 1 1.0
501 – 1000 1 1
16 13 3 3.0
5.8 2.8
1001 – 1500 3 3.0 9 8.9 2 2.0
1501 – 2000 - - 5 5.0 1 1.0
2001 – 2005 1 1.0 3 3.0 1 1.0
2501 – 3000 - - 1 1.0 - -
Not Stated 1
11 10 9.9 4 4.0
0.9
3 4
TOTAL 39 50 12 12
8.6 9.5

This assumption can be further strengthened, as some of those who

are living with their own relatives do not give them fixed monthly
salaries, since their food for everyday and their allowance for school.
Some of the children when asked how much they get from working in
their relatives’ house said,

“Sa Tita ko po? Wala pong binibigay sa akin.”

--- Zenki, 17

“Wala po... Basta wala po. Basta, parang nakikitira po ako

sa kanila tapos kapag may school, pag may ano na po...
sila po yung bahala.”
--- chupeta, 14

“Yung ganun po. Bale dito, bago ako nagtrabaho sa bahay

…basta nagtatrabaho po ako sa bahay namin pero hindi

50
 naman po sinuswelduhan. Bale, nakikitira lang po, ganun
po.”
--- pop corn, 16

Educational Background

SCHOOL
All the children involved in the program attend schools which are
located within Quezon City. Among the children, one out of four is
enrolled in Krus na Ligas High School. Other children attend school at
Camp Gerneral Emilio Aguinald High School (19), Flora Ylagan High
School (20), and Carlos P. Garcia High School (13). A small number of
children go to school at Juan Sumulong High School (2) and Ramon
Magsaysay High School (3) (see Table 10.)

Table 10. School

Category f %
Juan Sumulong 2 2.0
Camp General
19 18.8
Emilio Aguinaldo
Carlos P. Garcia 13 12.9
Ramon Magsaysay 3 3.0
Lagro High School 8 7.9
Krus na Ligas 26 25.7
Flora Ylagan 20 19.8
Others 8 7.9
No answer 2 2.0
TOTAL 101 100.0

YEAR LEVEL

Of the 101 child domestic laborers, 29 of them have reached 1st

year high school. An equal number of children have reached 2nd or 3rd
year high school. It must be noted that some of the children have

51
stopped formal education at one point. Only 7% of the children have
only graduated from elementary (see Table 11).

Table 11. Year level

Category f %
Elementary
7 6.9
graduate
1st year
29 28.7
Highschool
2nd year
26 25.7
Highschool
3rd year
26 25.7
Highschool
4th year
9 8.9
Highschool
Not Stated 4 4.0
TOTAL 101 100.0

Although, a handful of CDLs stopped schooling at one point, their

studies seemed to be one of the reasons why they had to enter and
continue to stay in such jobs. Education was, according to them very
important since it is one of the ways they can help their own families
get up from poverty. One determined student said,

“Sa magkakapatid po ako lang po yung nag-aaral. Bale

yung ate
ko po, 2nd year lang natapos. Mga kapatid ko hindi nag-
aaral eh…

…Magcocollege po ako. Gusto ko po makabuo, 4 year-

course.

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 Para po makatulong sa family ko. Para po sa aming
magkakapatid
man lang, ako po yung makakapagtapos.”
--- Zenki, 17
TALENTS and SKILLS

One important aspect that CDL Program enhances aside from

providing financial help as support for the Child Domestic Laborers is
the talents and skills of these young children. Many of them are active
in Lingap and other community activities, in which they can show
some their talents and skills in music, sports and academics. Lingap
conducts Children Forum every third week of the month, wherein they
can actually plan their activities for the whole year. Furthermore, they
are assisted in enhancing their talents and skills through workshops in
song, dance, theater and instrument playing together with their fellow
CDLs. At the same time, children are also given the opportunity to join
contests on drawing, poster-making, poem-writing are also provided
by Lingap.

Under the same program, children themselves encourage each

other to participate in different activities to be able to do other things
aside from their household work.

Through the year also, tutorials on the subjects Math, Science

and English – in which most of the children admitted to have difficulty
in such areas. On the other hand, as of February 2005, there were
already 73 CDLs provided with school needs, specifically materials for
their school projects, field trip fees and uniforms. The project also did
some minor help to the families of those who accidentally burned by
fire.

53
 Children under the program also get to learn lessons about God
which made them enjoy and thankful about Lingap.

“Siyempre po masaya.. Unang-una, marami pong bagong

kaibigan.
Tapos ano po... sa Lingap po kasi sila po yung
sumusuporta
po sa pag-aaral namin, ganun po. Tsaka sila po yung tu-
mutulong
po para mapalapit sa Diyos, kaya po masaya po. “
--- ketchup, 16

All these endeavors and activities helped the CDLs to be able to

socialize with other people, meet some friends and learn other things
outside their boxes. The organization, together with the Child Domestic
Laborers hope that such efforts to improve their lives would continue
for them to get out of domestic job and achieve their future dreams
and ambitions.

FOCUSED AUDIENCES
Target Audiences

PRIMARY AUDIENCE

Parents: they should be the ones who are with the children most of
the times. They should be the first ones to stop their children to work
but they seem to have become dependent to their child hoping that
they will alleviate them from poverty. They aren’t aware of the projects
made by the local government unit. They do not even know anything
about the Non-Government Organization in their area committed in
providing services for the children. They need thorough mobilization
indeed.

54
Employers: some employers are considerate on the welfare of the
children, but then they probably are aware that it is not right to have
children toiling in their homes while they are doing something else. No
one could ever repay the children for sacrificing their childhood years
just for work. They should not be tolerating the children to be involved
in labor.

SECONDARY AUDIENCE
Child laborers: Children lack the knowledge on their own rights. They
are not aware that they should not be working on their young age.
Even if they do, they couldn’t do anything to have themselves
alleviated from their aggravations.

INFLUENTIALS

Local Government Unit

The government shall recognize the vital role of the youth in
nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being by enhancing their over all
development, taking into account sectoral needs and conditions in the
development of educational, cultural, recreational policies and
programs addressed to them.

Schools

It is through the schools that advocates may have the awareness

drive campaign on the said issue to inform the children. The education
sector does not only need to educate the children but they must also
help in doing other things concerning the nation’s future – the
children.

55
 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

To deliver the message, we chose LINGAP as represented by Ms. Kathy

Eder of Lingap Pangkabataan because the audience can identify her
and she is credible and knowledgeable about child labor here in the
Philippines.

Message Strategy:
“MANGGAGAWANG KABATAAN, BANTAYAN AT PROTEKTAHAN”

We chose this message because it is:

 Factually correct
 Easy to understand
 Simple, precise and explicit
 Consistent with other messages and overall program policies
 Supportive of personal growth and change
 Attractive and interesting
 Attitudinal and behavioral change
 Its language is acceptable and inoffensive.

Channel Strategy

These are the channels/media/topic that we are planning to have for

our campaign for helping the CDL/ CT/ CL:

1. Family day

56
 2. Seminar
3. Film/Documentary Showing
4. Counseling
5. Pamphlets
6. Stickers
7. Tarpaulin
8. Play
9. Music Video/Jingle
10.Streamers

These channels are from the results of our baseline survey that was
held last November 22 and 29, 2006 at Barangay E. Rodriguez
specifically at 139Compound, Stanford Street, New York St., and Yale
Street. We also based these channels on criteria such as Reach,
Frequency, Impact, access, Cultural Fit and Budget.

57
 OPERATONAL PLAN
Schedule/ time Activity Objective Personnel Materials
involved needed/ budget
March 2, 2007 Hanging of To provide Whole group
10:00 am – 2:00 tarpaulin, awareness with LPI
pm streamers to the representative/s
And house to audiences
house
distribution
of pamphlets
and stickers
March 7, 2007 Gathering of for the Jessica, Jorife,
1:00pm – 2:00 pm parents orientation Nazel, Krystel,
about CL, Camille, Harold
CDL, CT and with LPI
other child representatives
issues (GD)
March 7, 2007 Venue for the Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement orientation Danico, Jen,
(GD) Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe. Rovel
March 7, 2007 Orientation about CL, Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm CDL, CT and with LPI
other child representative/s
issues (GD)
March 9, 2007 gathering of for the Jessica, Jorife,
1:00pm – 2:00 pm families documentary Nazel, Krystel,
showing Camille, Harold

58
 with LPI
representative/s
March 9, 2007 Venue for the Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement documentary Danico, Jen,
showing Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe. Rovel
March 9, 2007 Documentar For them to Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm y showing know what’s with LPI
happening representatives
st
March 14, 2007 gathering of for the 1 Leonard,
1:00pm – 2:00 pm families family day Danico, Jen,
Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe, with LPI
representative/s
March 14, 2007 Venue for the 1st Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement family day Nazel, Krystel,
Camille, Harold,
Rovel
March 14, 2007 1st Family For the Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm day family to with LPI
(Programs, have quality representative/s
plays, time
discussion)
March 16, 2007 Gathering of for seminar Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Parents regarding Danico, Jen,
children’s Paolo,
rights Jonathan,
Carloe, with LPI
representative/s
March 16, 2007 Venue For the Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement seminar Nazel, Krystel,
Camille, Harold,
Rovel
March 16, 2007 Seminar For the Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm regarding audience to with ate Kat,
children’s know more ate Nila, Kuya
rights about the Russel and
children’s Kuya Rex
rights
March 21, 2007 Gathering of For the 2nd Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm parents with family day Nazel, Krystel,
children/ Camille, Harold,

59
 grand with LPI
children For representative/s
the 2nd
family day
March 21, 2007 Venue For the 2nd Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement family day Danico, Jen,
Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe, Rovel
March 21, 2007 2nd Family For them to Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm day (Plays, have quality with LPI
Parlor games time and representatives
for children) bond with
each other
March 23, 2007 Gathering of For the Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm parents documentary Nazel, Krystel,
showing Camille, Harold,
with LPI
representative/s
March 23, 2007 Venue For the Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement documentary Danico, Jen,
showing Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe, Rovel

March 23, 2007 Documentar For them to Whole group

2:00 pm – 4:00 y showing have with LPI
pm and awareness representative/s
discussion
March 28, 2007 Gathering of For the Leonard,
1:00 pm – 2:00 parents/ focused group Danico, Jen,
pm elders discussion Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe, with LPI
representative/s
March 28, 2007 Venue For the Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 pm – 2:00 arrangement focused group Nazel, Krystel,
pm discussion Camille, Harold,
with LPI
representative/s
March 28, 2007 Focused To strengthen Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 Group their with ate Kat,
pm Discussion participation, ate Nila, Kuya
(FGD) determination, Russel and

60
 regarding and Kuya Rex
issues about awareness
children
March 30, 2007 pm Gathering of For the grand Jessica, Jorife,
1:00 – 2:00 pm parents/ bingo Nazel, Krystel,
elders Camille, Harold,
with LPI
representative/s
March 30, 2007 pm Venue For the grand Leonard,
1:00 – 2:00 pm arrangement bingo Danico, Jen,
Paolo,
Jonathan,
Carloe, with LPI
representative/s
March 30, 2007 GRAND For them to Whole group
2:00 pm – 4:00 BINGO enjoy and with lingap
pm relax representatives

61
 MONITORING SCHEME (Pre-Campaign Period)
Timeframe Activity Target Actual output Remarks
output
Jan. 15- 27, 2007 Finding of To finish all
sponsors, activities
canvassing with in the
and planning week
of IEC
materials
and venue
for the
campaign
proper.
Jan. 28- Feb. 10, Recording of To finish he
jingle, follow said
2007
up for the activities
sponsors, and have
making raw the
mats for the donations by
documentary this weeks
Feb. 10- 17, 2007 Completion To have this
of the IEC on time so
materials we could
and venue show it to
for the LPI
campaign
Feb. 18-28 Finalization To polish the
of the said
programs for campaign
the that will
campaign, start on

62
 (e.g. family march.
day, FGD,
GD,etc.)

MONITORING SHEME (Campaign Period)

Timeframe Activity Target Actual Remarks

output output
March 2, 2007 Hanging of To hang the
10:00 am – 2:00 pm tarpaulin, tarp and
streamers streamers
and house to and
house disseminate
distribution all the
of pamphlets pamphlets
and stickers and stickers
March 7, 2007 Gathering of To gather at
1:00pm – 2:00 pm parents for least 50
the persons for
orientation the GD
about CL,
CDL, CT and
other child
issues (GD)
March 7, 2007 Venue To arrange
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement the venue
for the accordingly
orientation for the GD
(GD)
March 7, 2007 orientation To provide
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm about CL, awareness
CDL, CT and and organize
other child the program
issues (GD)
March 9, 2007 gathering of To gather at

63
1:00pm – 2:00 pm families for least 50
the
viewers
documentary
showing
March 9, 2007 Venue To arrange
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement the venue of
for the the
documentary documentary
showing viewing

March 9, 2007 Documentar For the

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm y showing audience to
understand
what is our
campaign all
about
March 14, 2007 gathering of To gather at
1:00pm – 2:00 pm families for
least 50
the 1st family
day families
March 14, 2007 Venue Arrange the
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement
venue for 50
for the 1st
family day families
March 14, 2007 1st Family To conduct
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm day and organize
(programs, the 1st family
plays, day
discussion)
March 16, 2007 Gathering of To gather at
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Parents for
least 50
seminar
regarding parents
children’s
rights
March 16, 2007 Venue Arrange the
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement venue for
the seminar
March 16, 2007 Seminar For the
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm regarding parents to
children’s know more
rights about the
rights of the
children

64
March 21, 2007 Gathering of Gather at
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm parents with least 50
children/ families with
grand grand
children parents
March 21, 2007 Venue Arrange the
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement venue
accordingly
March 21, 2007 2nd Family To conduct
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm day (Plays, the program
Parlor games as planned
for children)
March 23, 2007 Gathering of To gather at
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm parents least 50
parents
March 23, 2007 Venue Arrange the
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement venue
accordingly
March 23, 2007 Documentar For them to
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm y showing have
and awareness
discussion
March 28, 2007 Gathering of To gather at
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm parents/ least 50
elders families
March 28, 2007 Venue Arrange the
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm arrangement venue
accordingly
March 28, 2007 Focused The parents
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Group would
Discussion answer the
(FGD) questions
regarding correctly and
issues about participate
Children
March 30, 2007 pm Gathering of To gather 50
1:00 – 2:00 pm parents/ elders parents/
elders
March 30, 2007 pm Venue Arrange the
1:00 – 2:00 pm arrangement venue for
the Grand
BINGO
March 30, 2007 GRAND Conduct the
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm BINGO

65
 bingo game
and make it
successful.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Communication
Sta. Mesa, Manila

Control no.____
Date:
Name/The Manager
Marketing Department
Name of Company

Dear Mr./ms ____

We are writing this letter in behalf of those the child laborers, who spent years living
years of hard work to help their family. Our groups is seeking for your donations so
as to conduct an awareness campaign for the children as well as their parents and
employers regarding the laws and children’s rights.

You may contact us through mobile phone number 09229057868, or at 259-43-90.

Thank you very much and we hope to work with you helping the Filipino children.

Respectfully yours,

Leonard Paul Daniel D. Lucas

Group leader

Noted by:

Prof. Malaya B. Abadilla

Adviser,
COM 203 – communication campaign

Prof. Edna T. Bernabe

Chairperson,
Department of Broadcast Communication

66
 Control no.
Received the ff. donations from ________ on __ Day of __, 2007
Signed:___________ selection of choices: Tarpauline_____
Streamer______
Stickers_______

67