TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here has expressed alarm over human trafficking cases in Eastern Visayas as it urged law enforcers and local government units to immediately put a stop to the crime.
In a press briefing Wednesday, DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto said the region has already recorded 131 human trafficking cases from 2015 to third week of July 2018.
“This crime persists in the region due to poverty, lack of awareness, persuasion by family members and peers, and desire to earn more money. The number of reported cases has been increasing, but from our point of view, this happens because more people are aware of their rights,” Macuto told reporters.
The latest case was documented on July 19 where 40 people, including minors, were rescued while heading to Pangasinan to work as laborers in illegal fish pens. At least 32 of the victims are from Eastern Visayas region.
This year alone, the region has already recorded 60 human trafficking cases, higher than the 35 individuals who fell into the hands of illegal recruiters last year. Of the total cases in the region, 71 were documented from 2015 to 2017.
“The fight to end human trafficking is a responsibility we all must share, from law enforcement and policymakers to service providers and faith-based leaders. Our main responsibility and social obligation is to offer the victims of human trafficking a chance to remember good things. However, the issue of human trafficking is complex in nature, and cannot be addressed only by one organization, or by government alone,” Macuto said.
The DSWD vowed to continue supporting trafficking victims through the implementation of the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).
The RRPTP is a comprehensive program that ensures adequate recovery and reintegration services for those who have been victims of human trafficking. It includes a case management, where the problems and needs of the victims are analyzed, in order to implement appropriate interventions.
The services provided by the DSWD for trafficked persons under the program include capital assistance, referral to employers and business partners, and the provision of financial assistance for employment and during skills training.
In addition, auxiliary services given to the victims or witnesses include board and lodging, documentation, and incidental expenses.
The department also accommodates victims in search of temporary shelter to recover from their trauma, as well as those with ongoing court cases.
The DSWD renewed its call for stronger ties to fight the crime as the world will celebrate the Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 as set by the United Nations.
Trafficking in persons, according to the United Nations, is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
