Trafficked families get DSWD aid

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 received the other day 98 families comprising 119 individuals who came from Tubba Lubok Island, Barangay Aluh Bunah, Pangutan, Sulu, Philippines and were said to be victims of trafficking in persons.

The DSWD-7 personnel met them at Pier 4 in Cebu City with personnel from the Ministry of Social Services and Development-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-BARMM), Philippine National Police-Sulu, Women and Children Protection Center-Mindanao Field Unit, and the Special Action Force accompanying them.

“Ang nag-rescue nila ang BARMM. Ang Central Visayas gadawat nila. Kagahapon sa buntag sila niabot,” DSWD-7 Information Officer Leah Quintana said, in an interview with The FREEMAN yesterday.

Quintana said that of the 131 victims, only 119 were brought to Cebu City, as the 12 were returned to Sulu and Zamboanga for processing and eventual reintegration into their families and communities.

She said that with most of the rescued victims, who are mostly fishermen and their families, hail from the Visayas regions, particularly Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Daanbantayan town, Danao City, and Talisay City in Cebu province; and Talibon, Inabanga, Tubigon, Getafe, Trinidad, and Tagbilaran City in Bohol province.

There were also those who hailed from Samar in Eastern Visayas.

DSWD-7 provided the 98 families with a total of P980,000 in cash assistance.

In a speech, DSWD-7 Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero said that with the with the cash assistance, the victims should embark on a fresh start, as they look for employment or livelihood.

She also asked the local government units (LGUs) to further assess the needs of the 98 families and provide the appropriate interventions, whether through their own support or that of national government agencies. — (FREEMAN)