The handbook serves as guide to more effective and successful rescue operations. The basic philosophy behind the Sagip Bata Manggagawa and the handbook follows closely the provisions of Article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The handbook is a tool for the protection of working children. Its usefulness will be measured over time in the number of children removed from the worst form of child labour. It is presented with a brief presentation of the child labour situation in the Philippines. It also describes the national response to the child labour phenomena, particularly in addressing most abusive forms of child work.
One part of the book is devoted to a detailed presentation of the holistic context of the Sagip Batang Manggagawa, specifically focusing on the rescue program which is the heart of the system. It concludes with lessons learned and issues for further discussion in the interest of institutionalizing effective approaches toward special protection of abused child labourers.
