By Raymart Escopel
ILOILO City — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas inspired the children of Brgy. Calajunan, Mandurriao here who are at risk of becoming child laborers to continue their studies by giving them educational kits.
A total of 40 school children were given educational kits during the conduct of Kalayaan Job Fair in Marymart Mall on June 12 as part of the Department’s celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence Day.
The said beneficiaries each received a kit comprised with four notebooks, pack of art paper, ruler, erasers, drawing book, three pencils, three ballpoint pens, one box of 24-piece crayon, a pair of scissors, pencil case, a roll intermediate pad, pencil sharpener, and plastic envelope with handle – a total cost of P200 per kit.
The beneficiaries of the school supplies were students of Feliciano Hava Kelly Elementary School in Calajunan, Mandurriao.
Ten-year old Kent Seyas, a Grade 3 pupil, was one of the beneficiaries of the school supplies. He extended his gratitude to DOLE-6 for providing him an educational kit seeing as it will be a big help to his studies.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Atiyon, a 10-year old Grade two pupil said the school supplies he received will serve as a stepping stone for him to achieve his dreams in life.
On her part, Genelyn Obaredes, one of the parents of the beneficiaries, is very happy that her daughter Nicole was chosen to receive school supplies as it completed the things she need in school.
The beneficiaries of the school supplies are children of the recipients of DOLE’s Kabuhayan sa mga Magulang ng Batang Manggagawa program which was initiated in 2013 for the workers in Calajunan dumpsite.
The fund used in purchasing the school supplies is the result of the fun run for a cause organized by DOLE-6 in partnership with the Network Career Guidance Advocates of Iloilo and Guimaras on May 24 as part of the Labor Month Celebration which generated a total of P13,005.
The 40 beneficiaries of school supplies were identified through the convergence program of DOLE and Department of Social Welfare and Development with regard to the implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program./PN
