US, province to sign agreement on battling human trafficking
UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is slated to visit Cebu this Thursday to sign an agreement with Cebu province officials on combatting human rafficking.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia made the announcement about Thomas’ visit in her regular press conference last week.
Garcia said the agreement will show the US’ support in her campaign against trafficking.
The US Department of Homeland Security earlier helped authorities crack down on a family-run cybersex den based in Cordova town, north Cebu.
“We will be signing a memorandum of agreement with the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation headed by Provincial Board Member Aladdin Caminero on a program engaging the youth and the SKs to actively campaign against human trafficking,” Garcia said.
In June, Caminero passed a resolution for the creation of the SK Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (Mata).
The movement is supported by Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. and will enlist all SK members and officers in the all-out war against human trafficking.
Through a nationwide network, the SK-Mata will teach youth will how to prevent, detect and report cases of human trafficking.
Last month, Garcia and members of the anti-trafficking task force also signed an agreement that defined their roles in the fight against human trafficking.
The signatories included the International Justice Mission, Aboitiz Transport System, Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, the Visayas Forum Foundation Inc. and the porters’ association.
Government signatories included the Departments of Labor and Employment, Tourism, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Maritime Industry Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, Philippine Coast Guard Central Eastern Visayas, Cebu Ports Authority and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.
The porters who tipped off police about suspected trafficking received cash rewards last month of P3,000 each from the task force.
The porters’ tips led to the rescue of 18 girls from Bohol and Leyte provinces from suspected illegal recruiters who accompanied them in Cebu’s pier 4 en route to Manila where the girls and women were promised jobs as nannies and housekeepers.
