THE Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) has installed new hotline numbers to accommodate calls related to trafficking in persons from the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental.
These new hotline numbers are (0917) 7030967, open 24 hours and 4166839, open during office hours.
Social Welfare Undersecretary Alicia Bala directed all the DSWD field offices nationwide to activate their helplines and train persons in-charge to receive calls and aggressively act on the reports as well as work seriously on the agency’s anti-trafficking efforts, including the recovery and reintegration program for trafficked persons.
As raids are continously enforced by the Anti-trafficking Task Force, this 24-hour hotline accepts calls even during wee hours at night or very early morning.
The DSWD has allocated resources in coordination with the partner agencies and law enforcers in protecting women and minors who fall prey to human trafficking.
The resources will finance skills training, livelihood or employment opportunities for the victims.