Working Children in Drugs in the Philippines: A Participatory Action Research for Child/Family and Community Empowerment
Dr. Emma Porio and Christine Crisol
Urban and Community Studies Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology,Ateneo de Manila University; International Labour Organization
E-mail:eporio@ateneo.edu

This research tackles about the involvement of children and youth in the production, sale and trafficking of illegal drugs in the Philippines, particularly in the impoverished areas in Metro Manila. It describes the increasing participation of children and youth in illicit drugs' trading, trafficking and abuse. It aims to (1) identify and construct a profile of children/youth (including their families, peer networks, and communities) involved in drug-related activities; (2) understand the pattern of recruitment into the drug network; (3) explore how these children could be "weaned" or dislodged from the drug network and become part of the mainstream institution of work, education, and social networks in the community., and (4) identify a strategic set of policy and program interventions to reduce the demand for drugs at the community, peer and child level. Process-based approach was used to gain an understanding on the problem. Some of the vital information were not much known because of the dangerous nature of the emerging phenomenon.

The participatory action-oriented research also focuses on pilot-testing community-based models of intervention for children/youth in drugs in selected communities in Metro Manila. The beneficiaries of the project were 260 children and youth, aged 7-17 years old engaged in drug-related activities. Parents/guardians of the target children, barangay officials, community leaders and members of civil society groups were also tapped for cooperation in community mobilization, training/advocacy, information and education campaigns. Several other organizations such as the NGOs, GOs, POs and academe collaborated on making the pilot community-based program a success.

The study highlighted the significant role of peer networks, families, and community institutions in the rehabilitation and prevention of children/youth from being involved in drug networks.