DOT rolls out anti-trafficking program

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is reviving its anti-trafficking program for Cebu’s resorts and hotels to protect the province’s youth.

In an interview, DOT Regional Director Rowena Montecillo said their “Childwise Tourism Program” derived from a previous campaign in the 1980s dubbed the “End Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (ECPAT), is revived.”

“It was stopped, so now we are reviving the program because we think that we need to make the stakeholders more aware and encourage them to take a proactive role in helping avoid child abuse,” Regional DOT-7 Director Rowena Montecillo said.

Last Saturday’s launching at the Radisson Blu Hotel was attended by Metro Cebu officials, Social Welfare and Development Asst. Secretary Teodoro Romo Jr. and DOT director for tourism investment promotions group Maria Rica Bueno.

Montecillo said they will hold a series of focus group discussions per sector which include the travel agencies, transport groups, restaurants, accomodations group and more.

“What we’d really like to do is discuss with them what needs to be done to really help avoid children being subject to abuse like sex tourism and child trafficking. Hopefully, we can come up with sector-wide policies,” Montecillo said.

Montecillo said they will start with the accommodations group then proceed to other sectors like travel agencies, transport groups and tour guides. “We are looking to finish FGDs with the accommodations group by October so that we can also start with other sectors,” Montecillo said.

She said the transport group is critical because they can be gatekeepers in avoiding human trafficking.

The “Childwise Tourism Program” was launched in Bohol in May this year and will also be rolled out to other key tourism destinations in the country like Palawan, Davao and Manila.

Montecillo said DOT is serious in their campaign to protect the children from abuse and wants to forge a commitment with the private sector to help them in this campaign.

“We urge them to take part in this because we can’t do it alone. We really need them to make this drive successful,” she said.

Cebu stakeholders like the Tourism Congress welcomed and pledged their support to the DOT program.

“As legitimate tour operators, we only conduct tours that don’t degrade women and children. We are more vigilant and cautious in issuing airline tickets to minors not traveling with parents,” said Alice Queblatin, Tourism Congress vice president for travel and tours.

Islands group president and chief executive officer Jay Aldeguer also agreed.

“I think trafficking is such a major issue that each citizen, whether from the private or public sector, should be vigilant to protect our youth,” Aldeguer said.