The local government of Quezon City disclosed on Sunday that it has rescued a total of 10,000 youths from child labor.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte — who conducted the 4th State of the City's Children Report at Quezon Memorial Circle in line with the celebration of the National Children's Month — said that at least 5,229 boys and 4,773 girls were victims of child labor.

She added that the youths were selling sampaguita in the streets, working as vendors and in some factories.

Belmonte also announced that the Quezon City LGU received the seal for Child Labor-Free Zone to QMC after all of its tenants, guards, gardeners, and admin staff underwent extensive training for Child Rights and Child Labor 101.

Belmonte said that all establishments in the city have no children illegally working or employee as they created the Child Protection Policy in order to cater the reports in connection with child exploitation.

"This is the historic site where our local intention to end child labor ignited a worldwide conviction that is now being shared by the nations of the world," Belmonte said.

"Currently, the process of assessing needs and referring children and their families to appropriate city programs and services is quick and thorough," she added.

Belmonte stressed that they aim to achieve zero percent child laborers in the city as soon as possible and in line with this, the mayor established the Quezon City Inter-Agency Task Force for the Special Protection of Street Children and Child Laborers or Task Force Sampaguita.

Task force Sampaguita was created by virtue of Executive Order 41, Series of 2022, the Task Force has consolidated and intensified all efforts to eradicate all forms of child labor in Quezon City.

Since September, some 685 individuals, including 296 child workers, have been rescued by Task Force Sampaguita and as part of its initiative, the city government has extended financial and educational assistance to the families of these victims. They were also granted capital to help them establish a small business where they can source their livelihood.

To address mental health problems among children, Belmonte said the city council has approved the Mental Health Code where the city's first responders, such as barangay employees, teachers and non-teaching staff, will be trained to address first signs of mental health problems among students.