CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government has intensified its campaign against illegal recruitment and human trafficking through massive information dissemination especially to far- flung areas which are the target of recruiters and traffickers.
In a dialogue the other day, Atty. Filbert Torres, chief of the research and development division of the Office of the Vice President (OPV) cited the programs of the province to address the problems concerning illegal recruiters and human traffickers. He also gave pointers on how to strengthen this advocacy of the provincial government.
With this, Elizabeth Baybayan, head of provincial social welfare and development office (PSWDO) told Torres that provincial board and Governor Lilia Pineda are now implementing the enacted Provincial Children’s Protection Code through the Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Network (CAPIN), gender and development code, the creation of Provincial Action Center for OFW Concerns (PACOC) – local government tools and arm in its fight against the exploitation of children and women in the province.
Ma. Eliza Munoz, PACOC head said there is also an existing convergence among Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), local government units and the provincial government in the fight against illegal recruitment as manifested in a memorandum of agreement.
“I’m surprised that Pampanga has existing protocol on children’s protection. It is a big step in averting human trafficking. Also notable here is the coordination between the provincial government and POEA and DOLE to prevent illegal recruitment activities and bring the illegal recruiters in jail,” said Torres.
The division chief from OPV said the province could intensify these programs through awareness and information drive down to grassroots level specifically in the far-flung areas where majority of the victims come from.
“It is better to prevent people from being victims than prosecuting illegal recruiters and traffickers through awareness and information drive. This has a bigger impact,” he said.
Board Member Rosve Henson asked Torres to provide the province with relevant information education and communication materials used by their office for the perusal and reference of the Kapampangans in the province.
“People must know what is illegal recruitment and human trafficking. How to identify illegal recruiters, and to whom they can report any related incidents,” Henson said.
Luningning Vergara, provincial manager of public employment services office (PESO) announced the existence of the Barangay PESO Coordinators that can be utilized for information dissemination.
Also present during the dialogue were Board Members Ricardo Yabut, Rosve Henson, Ferdinand Labung, DOLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante, representatives of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
They all vowed to support the campaign of the province to prevent illegal activities, save the victims and apprehend people behind the said unlawful act.
By JENNA LUMBANG
