Agencies unite vs. human trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - A memorandum of agreement was formally signed yesterday by government and private agencies on the implementation of Republic Act No. 9208 which is also known as The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 in the Province of Cebu.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia led the signing of the agreement as Cebu Province is the lead local government agency in the fight against trafficking through the establishment of the Cebu Task Force Against Trafficking in September last year.

The government agencies are the Regional State Prosecutor, Department of Tourism, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Maritime Industry Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Police Regional Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Cebu-Philippine Coast Guard, Regional Maritime Office, Philippine Ports Authority, Cebu Ports Authority, and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.

The private agencies and organizations are the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc., International Justice Mission, Mactan Airline Operators Council, Visayan Association of Ferry Boat and Coastwise Service Operation, Aboitiz Transport System; Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Cebu Association of Tour Operators, Cebu Travel and Tours Association, United Trampers Association of the Philippines, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, Inc., Metro Cebu Taxi Operators’ Association, Cebu Provincial Bus Operators’ Association, Cebu Provincial Mini Bus Operators’ Association and Universal Integrated Porters’ Association of Cebu.

The parties agreed that human trafficking can only be effectively addressed with the active collaboration and cooperation of the different concerned government agencies and instrumentalities and private sector.

Garcia thanked the different stakeholders representing the different sectors of the Province of Cebu who have decided to stand up against modern-day slavery.

As she gave incentives to the porters for tipping suspected trafficking activities in the Port of Cebu, Garcia hopes it will encourage other members.

“Nanghinaut ako nga kining atong gihimo makadasig pa sa uban ninyong mga kaubanan,” she said.

The Province of Cebu shall extend and make available to the parties its witness protection and tipster programs to encourage witnesses and tipsters to support the campaign against human trafficking.

“Nanghinaut akong makadasig sa tanan nga makahatag og impormasyon ug gani mobarug batok niini kanila nga nagpadayun sa pagbiktima sa atong mga katawhan,” Garcia added.

Yesterday, Garcia handed over P24,000 cash as tipster’s reward to at least eight porters who tipped the Cebu authorities about people at the port area who were later identified as human traffickers.

Carmelita Rabaya, President of the Universal Integrated Porters Association of Cebu received the award from Garcia in behalf of the porters.

A group of 15 girls from Bohol and three from Ormoc, most of them minors, were rescued before they boarded ships bound for Manila earlier this month. (FREEMAN)