Caritas Philippines announced this week the launch of the pilot implementation of a community schooling program that will provide young adults and out-of-school youth “better access to quality basic education and stable employment.”
“It is important for us at Caritas Philippines to concretely put into practice the advocacies that we espouse, like advancing labor rights in the country,” said Father Tony Labiao, Caritas Philippines executive secretary.
He said that aside from the community schooling program, Caritas Philippines will also implement an educational assistance program for academically-challenged students, a family feeding program, and a capacity-building program at the Caritas Philippines Academy.
Father Tito Caluag, Caritas Philippines consultant for development programs, said the schooling program aims “to respond to the growing unemployment and underemployment problems in the country, hurting more the impoverished families.”
He said it “will capacitate the scholars on industry-standard technical and soft skills to prepare for internship and gainful employment.”
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, chairman of Caritas Philippines, stressed that the Church only complements the programs of the government. He said this is the reason why voters need to “choose leaders who will defend the rights of the Filipino workers, and champion the causes of the labor sector.”
On May 1, Labor Day, Bishop Bagaforo said Caritas Philippines is supporting the call of various labor and civic groups for wage increase, and the passage of the “Anti-Endo Bill” to improve the “plight of low and middle-income earners.”
Caritas Philippines has allotted 44 million pesos this year for the programs to upscale the capacities of the youth and young adults, through the various Alay Kapwa Legacy Stewardship Programs.
