June 2003 – October 2009 Overview

 

Introduction

The ECLT has supported two projects in the Philippines between 2003 and 2009. The first, ‘Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Industry’ (ECLTI) took place from June 2003 until March 2006. This included an eight-month extension period. The second, ECLTI phase 2, ran from the beginning of 2007 until October 2009.

 

Project 1: ECLTI

Project in brief

Project Name	Eliminating Child Labour in the Tobacco Industry (ECLTI)
Partners	Department of Labour & Employment (government) & Bureau of Women and Young Workers
Duration	1st June 2003 until 31st March 2006
Expenditure	$US  91,189
Location	Alcala, PangasinanBalaoan, La UnionSan Emilio, PangasinanSan Juan, Ilocos SurPinili, Ilocos Norte
Objectives	1. To organise a sub-committee for the Elimination of Child Labour in the Tobacco Industry (SECLTI) which will be involved in implementing and monitoring the child labour project in the tobaccosector. 2. To strengthen Barangay councils for the protection of children 3. To organise parent and youth orientation and counselling on child labour laws 4. To provide educational assistance to child labourers 5. To provide alternative livelihood assistance to child labourers’ families

Background

Milestones in the Philippine government’s attempts to combat child labour include the ratification of ILO Convention 138 on Minimum Age for Employment on June 4, 1998 and ILO Convention 182 on November 28, 2000. This second  convention required ratifying countries to undertake immediate and effective measures to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. 

The Philippines transformed these policies into concrete actions through the National Program Against Child Labor (NPACL) .  Region 1′s participation in the NPACL started in 1996. Region 1 is the Ilocos Region, and is located in the northern part of the Philippines. It consists of four provinces: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

At the time this project commenced, the majority of the Ilocanos were engaged in agriculture; their most dominant and reliable source of income was from farming and livestock raising. Tobacco was – and still is – the main crop, and was planted in rotation with rice and corn. Tobacco growing was considered a family enterprise; the involvement of children in farms was treated as part of family activities.

According to a report by the Don Mariano Marcos State University, from 1993 to 1998, Philippine tobacco production grew at annual average rate of 0.93% to a total of 71,000 metric tons in 1998. The average increase in Region 1 tobacco production was faster with an average annual growth rate of 1.13%. Around 1.2 million of the 1.93 million Filipinos who depended on tobacco for their livelihood – 64.3% – lived in Region I.   

Because of limited data and a lack of public awareness about child labour in the tobaccosector, very limited interventions had been undertaken to combat child labour. Although child labour had been studied in the Philippines since the 1980s, there was no research focusing on children working in the tobacco sector alone. In February 2002, Philip Morris International commissioned Partners International Incorporated to undertake a baseline study of child labour in selected tobacco growing areas in the Ilocos Region. The baseline study showed that child labourers below the age of 15 were a regular occurrence in La Union and Ilocos Sur. The study demonstrated the physical and health hazards associated with tobacco production. Children had been observed to work on tobacco farms under conditions that were detrimental to their health.

As a result of this survey, the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Women and Young Workers entered into a partnership, funded by the ECLT Foundation, to address the underlying cause of child labour in tobacco growing in the Ilocos Region.

Key Achievements

1. Establishing a sub-committee on  the elimination of child labour in tobacco-growing

The Sub-committee for the Elimination of Child Labour in the Tobacco Industry (SECLTI) was created with the assumption that addressing child labour would be best accomplished by building partnerships, and pooling expertise and financial resources from various social partners.

In Pinili

• Seminars on laws related to child labour were conducted.
• Livelihood projects were established to provide an additional source of income for the families, and thus reduce the need for child labour.
• Counselling sessions were provided for withdrawn children.

In San Emilio

• Plans were formulated that strengthened the running of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).
• Technical support was provided to parent beneficiaries on their livestock projects.
• Training sessions and capacity building measures were provided to parent beneficiaries.
• Orientation was given on the dangers of child labour in tobacco growing.

In San Juan

• The Municipal Social Work and Development Office lobbied DOLE for the expansion of the project, particularly on educational assistance for children and parents’ livelihood projects.
• The Mayor’s office established counterpart projects to the beneficiaries’ livestock projects.
• A Principal of a National High School saw the significance of the project and consequently initiated anti-child labour activities.
• Child labour was discussed during Parents, Teachers, and Community Association meetings.
• Counselling was given to students then working in tobacco farms, and their progress was monitored and evaluated.

2. Strengthening Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPCs)

The BCPCs are the local councils in each region, of which there are 100 in Ilocos.  The project nominated the BCPCs as local partners as they were considered to have great potential as a resource for contributing to the elimination of child labour.

In San Juan and San Emilio, the BCPC monitored:

• The maltreatment of children, along with supplemental feeding interventions, and sports and recreational activities.

In Pinili, the BCPC:

• Disseminated information regarding the elimination of child labour.
• Provided alternative activities to young people and children to stop them from working on farms.
• Debated the ECLTI project at the General Assembly of the Barangay.
• Discussed eliminating child labour in tobacco-growing during Barangay Council Meetings.
• Continuously monitored project implementation in the Barangay. 

3. Awareness-raising and capacity-building of communities

Awareness-raising and capacity-building were designed for parents and young people to be oriented on child labour laws, the National Program Against Child Labour, and the health hazards related to child labour in tobacco growing. They were also designed to instill the values of responsible parenting.

• 25 parents’ and youth orientations were conducted;
• A total 1,985 participants attended these sessions.

 4. Educational assistance

The project targeted 100 child labourers with educational assistance by securing them places at public schools. Beneficiaries were at all levels of schooling, from primary through to vocational.

• All 100 children stopped working in tobacco-growing and studied full-time for the course of the project;
• Parents were set to continue with the education of their children beyond the term of the project.

5. Livelihood assistance

A fundamental basis for this project is the assumption that poverty is an underlying cause of child labour in tobacco-growing. Other means of livelihood had to be secured so that families no longer needed to rely on child labour. The project aimed to at least augment the income of parents.

• The common livelihood project took place in the three municipalities;
• In San Emilio, broiler production was also pursued;
• In San Juan, swine production and fattening was undertaken;
• Beneficiaries reported that the entrepreneurial training was effective and helped them manage their livelihoods.

 

Project II: ECLTI Phase 2

To sustain the achievements of Phase 1, the partnership between ECLT Foundation and DOLE-Region was continued under ECLTI Project-Phase 2. Phase 2 pursued the same major goal of contributing to the elimination of child labour in tobacco growing in Region 1. 

Project in brief 

Project Name	Eliminating Child Labour in the Tobacco Industry (ECLTI) phase 2
Partners	Department of Labour & Employment (government) & Bureau of Women and Young Workers
Duration	1st July 2007 until 31st October 2009
Expenditure	$US  375,3362
Location	Alcala, PangasinanBalaoan, La UnionSan Emilio, PangasinanSan Juan, Ilocos SurPinili, Ilocos Norte
Objectives	1. To intensify the conduct of information dissemination about child labour and its effect on child welfare and development; 2. To revitalize/reorganize the BCPC to become active/functional partners in the implementation of the child labour programme; 3. To reorganize and redefine the roles and functions of the member agencies, enhance the value systems, increase membership and establish linkages/partner with other government organizations; 4. To sustain the provision of educational assistance; 5. To enhance entrepreneurship capability and value re-orientation of the beneficiaries and infuse reasonable capital for viable livelihood undertaking; 6. To conduct research/periodic/regular monitoring and evaluation.

 

Key Achievements 

1. Awareness-raising and information dissemination  

At the start of ECLTI-Phase 2, the SECLTI was reorganized and Technical Working Groups were formed. The TWG on Development Communication was chaired by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), with DOLE, the National Tobacco Association (NTA) and, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and tobacco companies as members. It first met in February 2007 and formulated the Development Communication Plan for Phase 2. Specific achievements include:

• Radio infomercials on child labour in tobacco growing were aired over the PIA in-house radio programme “Ammuentayo”.
• A video documenting child labour was produced.
• Trans-Manila and Universal Leaf of the Philippines, Inc. were successfully engaged to provide audio-visual equipment (TV, DVD and stereo component) for San Juan and Balaoan.
• 1,524 members of the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) and Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) from the five project sites attended a one-day orientation and information seminar on the dangers of child labour and how to overcome them.
• 11 child labour orientation sessions for parents and young people were conducted, with a total of 1,668 participants.

2. Strengthening the BCPCs

The MCPCs and BCPCs were identified as critical to the elimination and prevention of child labour in tobacco-growing in the project areas. The project therefore embarked on a series of child labour orientation and capacity-building sessions to equip the MCPCs and BCPCs with the skills and knowledge they required. Specific achievements include:

• Child labour information seminars were conducted for 215 stakeholders: 48 teachers, 27 leaf and 140 Local Government Unit (LGU) officials.
• 213 MCPC members, leaf technicians and teachers from the five project sites were given orientation seminars covering the following topics: the creation/ reorganization of the MCPC, composition/ functions/ roles of the MCPC, the Anti-Child Labor Law, the Philippine Program Against Child Labor, ECLTI Project, the child labor monitoring system, and action planning.
• In addition, 251 Barangay Chairs and Secretaries were given the same orientation seminar, focusing on the creation/ reorganization of the BCPC, and its roles and functions.
• Members of the Municipal Councils in the municipalities of San Juan, Ilocos Sur were given orientation sessions on the project and on child labour. The same orientation served as a venue for the brainstorming on possible livelihood projects for the parent beneficiaries in  San Juan.
• 1,457 parents and teachers attended orientation meetings on  the following topics: the Philippine Programme Against Child Labor, Quick Rescue of Child Labourers, ECLTI Project, the hazards of child labour in tobacco sector, child’s rights and Child Labour Laws.
• All five project sites formulated their respective Children’s Welfare Code, with sections on child labour; and based on these codes, most Barangays adopted anti-child labour ordnances.
• In addition, BCPCs in Balaoan and Pinili included activities in their annual investment plans to support the protection and welfare of children, with corresponding budget allocations for activities related to child labour.
• The BCPCs discussed the ECLTI Project during their General Assemblies, and included topics on eliminating child labor in the tobacco-growing during Barangay Development Council (BDC) meetings.
• In Balaoan, Barangay councillors conducted information dissemination sessions on child labour for the households in their jurisdiction. Barangay councillors oversee a number of households as part of local governance, while the Barangay Chair is accountable for the whole village/ barangay.

3. Responsive and supportive SECLTI

The SECLTI was reorganized at the start of Phase 2 with the creation of Technical Working Groups (TWGs). This led to a more successful coordination of project activities throughout Phase 2.

• The project successfully engaged the ILO, UNICEF, and TUCP at a higher level. Under Phase 2, the partnership was no longer limited to an advisory function.
• With TUCP’s technical assistance, the SECLTI members underwent three days of capacity training in May 2007, which focused on anti-child labour laws, policies and enforcement to enable members to identify, monitor and verify child labour in their respective fields of expertise.
• SECLTI members participated in pre-workshop consultation for the Strategic Planning of the National Program Against Child Labour held in July 2007.
• The SECLTI marked the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) on 12^th June each year. In 2007, a three-day information caravan was deployed by the SECLTI in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan to raise public awareness about child labour.

 4. Educational assistance

A further 200 children (85 boys and 115 girls) benefited from the project’s educational assistance. Parents, children and teachers interviewed by the evaluator were consistent in their claim that the child beneficiaries were only absent from school when they got sick, and not, as before, when they often had to miss school to help their parents with tobacco-growing. More specifically:

• The enrolment of supported students was sustained, and the drop-out rate decreased.
• Former child labourers were noted by their teachers to be more focused in class, and were no longer late in arriving for class.

5. Livelihood assistance 

To sustain the livelihood initiatives under Phase 1, which benefited 100 parents, 200 parent beneficiaries were identified for Phase 2.  The intention underlying this objective remained the same: to augment the income of tobacco farmers through sustainable and profitable livelihood projects.  Specific achievements include:

• In La Union, although the Balaoan ECLTI Beneficiaries Association of La Union (BEBALU) did not receive additional funds under Phase 2, the Association was able to earn PhP11,360.00 from the 20% share it received for every goat sold by its individual members;  
• The palay and farm inputs trading in Barangay Cabaroan, San Emilio was a highly successful income-generating activity.   The group rented a space strategically located at the Municipal Public Market and products were sold at PhP200.00 a month. In just three months, the group had earned a net profit of PhP3,500.00. The amount was divided among themselves, and was used to buy school supplies for their children;
• A total of 17 Phase 1 beneficiaries from Balaoan underwent a two-day training seminar on artificial insemination and values orientation conducted by the Department of Agriculture on the effective implementation and management of their goat-raising project.
• 37 family beneficiaries in Alcala, Pangasinan were trained in Integrated Goat Management  and values orientation.
• The 28-week farmers livestock school training, which was ongoing in Alcala, La Union was organized by the Project, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, to equip the beneficiaries with the necessary skills to manage their livestock. 
• A total of 280 parent beneficiaries from five Project sites underwent a comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development Seminar, which included sessions on basic management and entrepreneurship training and ‘Starting Your Own Business’.

6. Monitoring and evaluation

The ECLTI Programme Management Team (PMT) conducted quarterly project monitoring at the project sites in collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers or designated personnel from the LGUs. In addition, there were instances of monitoring visits being conducted three times within two months. When orientation seminars were conducted the PMT would maximize the opportunity to conduct dialogues with beneficiaries. More specifically:

• The PMT monitored the school attendance/performance of children, together with the school Principal and teachers.
• Completed monitoring forms, together with supporting documents such as school attendance of children, and performance certification signed by teachers, were collected and filed at the DOLE-Region 1 Office.
• At the project sites, several stakeholders also conducted their own monitoring. MSWDOs monitored livelihood activities every month, as well as children’s school attendance and performance. Corresponding monthly reports were prepared and submitted to the ECLTI PMT. Teachers completed the children’s daily class attendance and performance records. BCPC members also reported that they conducted child monitoring visits in their own localities.