DOLE Sec. Baldoz named 'Bang-an'

 HAPPY WEEKEND 

Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Garbed in native Igorot  red, black and white striped  ‘gateng’ (wrap around skirt) with matching ethnic accented blazer, Sec. Rosalinda  Baldoz of the  Department of  Labor and Employment  was warmly welcomed  by Mountain Province officials headed by  Gov. Leonard Mayaen  and Vice Gov. Bonifacio  Lacwasan.

Occasion was the launching of the Child Labor-Free Barangays held here in the northern barangay of Aguid here last Oct. 12.Mayor Eduardo LatawanJr, Vice Mayor Richard Yodong and Aguid barangay captain MaximoSuyon with the community also adopted Baldoz as a daughter of Sagada and given her the name Bang-an.

           

Councilor Capone  Gomgom-o who  suggested the name Bang-an said  Bang-an is an indigenous name referring to a compassionate woman leader and healer.  

           

In said event, Baldoz awarded separate grants of P300,000 each to six barangays of  northern Sagada – Bangaan, Pide, Fidelisan, Tanulong, Aguid and Madongo- for their livelihood projects some of which are ‘etag’ (smoked meat) processing  under the Kabuhayan para sa mga Magulang  ng mga Batang  Manggagawa.

           

At least 120 elementary school children-recipients  were also given a pair of pants, t-shirts, and educational supplies  under  DOLE’s project Angel Tree.

           

In her speech, Baldoz encouraged children and the high school students  gathered during said event the value of education, noting DOLE’s  thrust  on bringing working children back to school and children who work in hazardous conditions.  

           

This, in the light of  some children and  high school students  reported engaged in small scale mining  activities at  Fidelisan  mining site. Some miners here said children engage in “usal” (gold panning)  in the mining site during off-school  time on  Saturday and Sundays.  

           

In said event, “children at risk” in northern Sagada was presented by  DOLE-Mountain Province  field office chief  Miguela  Limmayog.         The DOLE-MPFO coordinated said event with the municipal LGU. Approval of the municipal ordinance on Sagada code of children was witnessed by Baldoz, consultant Allyson Belagan of Rep. Maximo Dalog, Lacwasan in place of Mayaen, DOLE regional director  John Henry Jalbuena and the audience present.

           

The visit of  Baldoz witnessed the presentation of a signed memorandum of agreement on Child Labor- Free Barangay and anti illegal recruitment campaign and trafficking in  person  (AIR-TIP) by the  barangay captains of the six  northern barangays.

           

The visit signalled the continuation of further services  by DOLE  for the municipality of Sagada and Mountain Province constituents.