In observance of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called for a united effort to protect Filipino children from exploitation and ensure they can enjoy their right to education and childhood.
“This year’s theme, ‘Red Card to Child Labor: Fair play for children, decent work for adults,’ reminds us that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and enjoy their childhood — not to be burdened with work,” said Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the DSWD’s Operations Group.
She emphasized that protecting children from labor is a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of government, families, communities, and all sectors of society, echoing the local theme: “Ikaw, Ako, Tayo: Sama-samang Pagkilos para sa Batang Malaya.”
As co-chair of the National Council Against Child Labor (NCACL), the DSWD implements the SHIELD (Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental Interventions) program. SHIELD provides holistic, community-level interventions for child laborers and their families, including educational support, livelihood assistance, case management, and referrals to other government agencies.
From 2021 to 2025, the program assisted 14,112 child laborers, with 4,547 successfully freed from all forms of labor. Romualdez highlighted that these initiatives are aligned with the Marcos administration’s commitment to making government services more accessible to vulnerable and marginalized populations.
“Through our SHIELD program and broader social protection initiatives, we continue to support children and their families, addressing the conditions that put children at risk,” she said, urging the public to join in safeguarding the rights and welfare of Filipino youth.