El Nido, Palawan – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a Community Orientation on Human Trafficking to 50 out-of-school youths (OSYs), last January 29, 2015 in this municipality.

“The OSYs are prone to becoming victims of human trafficking,” said Concepcion Deymos, Youth Focal of DSWD Region IV – MiMaRoPa. The Orientation-cum-workshop was conducted to equip the audience with knowledge on RA 9208 or The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. The Act refers to trafficking in persons as the recruitment, obtaining, hiring, providing, offering, transportation, transfer, maintaining, harboring or receipt of persons with or without the victims consent or knowledge.

As of 2014, MiMaRoPa recorded a total of four underaged individuals who were victims of trafficking in person. Most of the victims were that of illegal recruitment to work as house-help or bar entertainers.

“Madaling mabiktima ang mga kabataan, lalo na ang mga out-of-school youths, (the youth are easy targets [for traffickers], especially when they are out of school)” said Nesba J. Bacuteng, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Palawan. “Kaya maganda na alam na nila, sa ngayon pa lang ano ba ang Human trafficking, paano ito maiiwasan, at kanino maaring magsumbong, (it is better that they learn of human trafficking at this point, how to not become a victim and know who to ask for help),” Bacuteng added.

Following the orientation was a workshop where participants were asked to list down programs or projects that will cater to the well-being of their health, education, community involvement and overall welfare as an individual. “Ang gusto po namin ay makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral para hindi kami naka-tambay lang, (we wish to continue our studies so we don’t remain idle),” said Christian Alcantara, 24, one of the OSYs.

A hand-over of the workshop output to Mayor Gacot-Lim as part of the pledge of commitment was also conducted. Mayor Lim promised to look into the workshop output and include the recommended programs/projects for the OSYs. “I assure you that we will work on turning your proposals into reality,” she said.

Informed leaders

                Some 100 barangay captains and local social workers convened for an open forum on trafficking. “We’ve also gathered the local leaders to keep them informed of what [trafficking] is about,” said Deymos, who also added that a “more informed” officials will have a better response mechanism to trafficked victims.

The attending participants were encouraged to support the combat against trafficking. El Nido, being one of the top tourist destinations in the Palawan is prone to human trafficking. Local leaders are expected to pass an ordinance requiring business establishments to attend an orientation on Human Trafficking. “The proposed orientation will help strengthen the mechanism on reporting human trafficking cases, and solidify the existing Local Committee Against Trafficking,” said Deymos.

DSWD provides assistance to victims of human trafficking through its program called Recovery and Re-integration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP). The program was pilot-tested in the region in 2011 and has helped in the rehabilitation process of trafficked persons.

The DSWD-led orientation also covered discussions on RA 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009; RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006; and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.###