MALATE, MANILA— Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IV-MiMaRoPa held a consultation dialogue with Puerto Galera Mayor Hubert Dolor, Stairway Foundation and TESDA MiMaRoPa in the DSWD-led initiative to reinforce anti-human trafficking campaign in the municipality, February 26, 2014.

The dialogue aimed to device a strategic plan addressing the existence of human trafficking cases in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Women, who are forced into commercial sex work are the primary victim of human trafficking in the municipality. “Kelangan na may mas maigting na plano para mawala at maiwasan ang maging biktima ng human trafficking, (There should be a good strategic plan in order to eliminate and avoid being victimized by human traffickers),” said Concepcion Deymos, Focal Person for Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked persons (RRPTP),DSWD IV-MiMaRoPa.

Mayor Dolor, emphasized the importance of providing livelihood options for potential victims for them not to fall prey to human traffickers. Business entrepreneur Ricky Reyes expressed solidarity with DSWD in its fight against human trafficking. His representative, who was present during the dialogue offered to submit a proposal listing possible training courses for livelihood.

Mayor Dolor promised to look into the proposal for possible partnership with Ricky Reyes in the implementation of to-be-proposed training programs.

In addition to provision of livelihood, DSWD have been doubling its effort in advocating RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking Act across the region and had recently conducted community orientation in Palawan and Mindoro respectively.###