MANILA, Philippines—Labor officials rescued three child laborers from a construction site in Negros Occidental recently. In a report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, DOLE Region 6 Director Ponciano Ligutom Jr. said the minors, aged 16-17 years old, were found working at an excavation site along the highway at Brgy. Calumangan, Bago City.
The minors were reportedly hired by RS Developer Co. Inc., (RSDCI), a job contractor. Ligutom said the rescue was conducted after he received a report about the presence of children working at the project site where excavation is underway for the ground setting of fiber optic cables of Smart Communications Inc.
The minors, who came from Leyte, were recruited and transported to Negros Occidental through the Escalante City port. The minors were reportedly paid P80 pesos per meter of ground excavated.