MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday warned persons affected supertyphoon Yolanda coming to Metro Manila to be vigilant against illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
"Illegal recruiters often prowl on victims of disasters who are in dire financial needs as well as on minors left orphaned and have no immediate family to take care of them," DSWD-National Capital Region director Alice Bonoan , who leads the processing center for internally displaced persons in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, said.
The DSWD has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for the conduct of information campaign to educate the arriving IDPs about their rights and responsibilities, as well as how to detect an illegal recuriter or human trafficker.
The DSWD and IACAT have set up a booth in Villamor Airbase to accommodate inquiries and reports on possible trafficking and illegal recruitment activities involving the IDPs.
Personnel of the two agencies will also show audio-visual presentations and distribute information kits at the grandstand and at the ‘Hatod Kabayan’ headquarters.
The agencies have also reminded relief workers and volunteers to familiarize themselves with the elements of trafficking and to report possible cases to the DSWD hotline 9319141 or the IACAT Action Lines 1343 and 02-1343 for those outside Metro Manila.
The DSWD advised Yolanda survivors looking for jobs to coordinate with DOLE-NCR at telephone numbers 4006011/3035921 or at the Public Employment Service Office at the various local government units in Metro Manila.
Gov't warns Yolanda survivors vs human traffickers, illegal recruiters
Typhoon Haiyan survivors walk through the ruins in the streets of Tacloban, Philippines on Sunday Nov. 17, 2013. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, hit the country's eastern seaboard Nov. 8, leaving a wide swath of destruction. AP/David Guttenfelder