Reports of prostitution in disaster-hit areas being closely monitored – Palace

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma (Photo from https://pcoo.gov.ph/)

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday assured the public that the government continues to oversee the situation in disaster-hit areas amid reports of prostitution in evacuation centers.

“Sinusubaybayan ng ating Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang lahat ng mga evacuation centers…at bahagi (ng) kanilang tungkulin ay ‘yung pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan doon kasama na ang mga kababaihan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a televised press briefing.

(The Department of Social Welfare and Development monitors all evacuation centers…and part of their task is to ensure the safety of the citizens there, including the women.)

The Secretary said DSWD have people monitoring evacuation centers and victims of the Zamboanga City siege in September, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October, and Super Typhoon Yolanda in November.

Coloma also revealed that a number of people have expressed interest in adopting children from Tacloban and other provinces where many were orphaned.

“Napakahigpit ng pinaiiral na patakaran hinggil diyan sapagkat isa sa mga layunin ay ‘yung hindi magkaroon ng human trafficking,” he added.

(Our rules regarding that is very strict because our aim is to prevent human trafficking.)

He said the government is determined to observe the situation in disaster zones.

“They have suffered enough from the consequences of the disasters, e madadagdagan pa ‘yon kung mapapariwara ang kanilang mga anak at mapapasok sa prostitusyon,” he added.

(They have suffered enough from the consequences of the disasters, it will only become worse if their children are lured into prostitution.)