BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines — Local government units (LGU), non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government agencies joined together recently in a Fun Run dubbed “2012 Fun Run to End Child Labor.”

Specific participating agencies and groups included the Cauayan LGU led by Mayor John Rey Tabujara who also heads the Cauayan-Child Labor Education Task Force (C-CLETF); DepEd-Cauayan District 1 & 2 (Elementary and High school levels), Cauayan-Katapatan Youth Club headed by Patrick Ongao, and local military and police authorities.

Participated in by 700 fun runners, the activity started early in the morning with a series of stretching exercises led by participating personnel from the 47th Infantry Battalion, followed by the four-kilometer run. All participants then gathered at the Cauayan Arts Center for a short program.

The run advocating for the cessation of child labor in the sugar industry was a concept demonstrating convergence efforts by LGUs, NGOs and other local government agencies, an activity bringing awareness and promoting peace in the community, according to Negros Occ. 6th district Rep. Mercedes K Alvarez. “We are very much commited to support this noble endeavor which aims to protect the rights of the children,” she said.