A total of PHP3.5 million worth of livelihood assistance in the form of materials, jigs, and equipment was released to 139 parents of profiled child laborers in the siomai capital village of Tisa here, a labor official said Friday.

Lilia Estillore, director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 (Central Visayas), said the beneficiaries could now operate their livelihood projects after they received aid amounting to as much as PHP29,000 each.

The family beneficiaries could start their own businesses by selling various frozen food products, such as siomai, street food, puto, rice retailing, and buy-and-sell of ukay-ukay.

The local government of Tisa, being the DOLE-7’s accredited co-partner, will monitor the development and sustainability of the businesses of their constituents.

“This initiative is in line with the DOLE’s advocacy of addressing the incidence of child labor in the country and the region in particular,” Estillore said.

By providing parents or guardians of child laborers with livelihood assistance, every child is assured of protection against child labor.

“Through this program, we are hopeful that we can help provide and promote sustainable livelihood as a tool to combat child labor,” she added. (PNA)