As part of the Integrated ARBO Child Labor and PPE (IACAP) Program of the SIFI-RSS initiatives, a workshop was held together with the agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) and barangays in Northern Negros Occidental.
The two-day Barangay Anti-Child Labor Program Assessment and Planning Workshop gathered a total of 37 participants from 11 barangays, with 3 punong barangays present, and was facilitated by Mr. Rhoderick Samonte, CHMSU Director for Internationalization and External Relations. This event was held to evaluate the current status of child labor-related programs at the barangay level, leading the ARBOs and Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) to the improvement of their 2026 plans and activities.
The first day featured a comprehensive review of the steps toward program goals based from the ARBO and Barangays’ 2025 achievements. The session also prompted the identification of gaps and challenges, designing a SWOT analysis on strengths and weaknesses, and creating a timeline of actions moving forward. Several challenges and realizations were shared by the ARBOs, CRAs and Barangay representatives in retrospection.
On the second day of the seminar, the participants reflected on their priorities by engaging in strategic planning. They also discussed the differences between program integration and institutionalization for a clearer understanding of the program goals.
Despite the tropical storm in the province and reported flooding in some of the partner barangays’ areas, the participants returned to the SIFI Training Center in Talisay City to develop their AIP Plans during the second day of the workshop. This highlights the ARBO and Barangays’ commitment in fostering sustainable programs for the safeguarding of children.
*reports from Virgielyn Aguilar
