The Canadian International Development Agency lauded the Saint Maria Goretti Foundation Inc. for implementing child labor programs in Negros Oriental last year, CIDA senior program officer Myrna Jarillas said yesterday.

The foundation is a non-government organization managed by Msgr. Merlin Logronio who spearheaded the project called “Community Approach Towards the Elimination of Worst Form of Child Labor in Negros Oriental”.

It received a total allocation of P2.3 million for the project.

Jarillas, who conducted an on-site evaluation, said community development can be seen in how the people in the community responded.

The project was implemented in the four pilot barangays of Poblacion 1 and Maglinao in Basay town and Pandanon and Luyang in Mabinay, in the province.

Jarillas said some dignitaries from Canada Fund will visit the project site few years after the completion of the project to ensure that the project will sustain and help the people in the community.

She said the CIDA believes that child labor is the result of the lack of livelihood opportunities.

It will raise the concerns of the community to the Department of Agriculture as there are potential agricultural areas in the pilot barangays needing the right technology and capital to start, Jaranillas added.*MA

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