Cebu youth inks pact against trafficking

Sangguniang Kabataan members in Cebu will form watch groups in schools, churches and communities as well as conduct awareness campaigns against human trafficking.

This developed after the SK leaders of Cebu province signed a covenant   signifying their commitment to combat human trafficking at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday.

Aside from the covenant signing, the SK Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (Mata) in Cebu was also launched.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr., keynote speaker during the covenant signing, said he was pleased with the youth’s participation IN the fight against human trafficking.

“We all must join hands to fight this modern-day slavery. Every country in the world has this challenge that we must defeat… I am signifying my continuing advocacy in the aggressive campaign in trafficking in persons fight,” Thomas said.

“The US government will continue to work with all of you and with the Philippine government to combat this menace. We will continue to be your strong ally in this fight,” he added.

He said if an American trafficker would be caught, then he should be jailed as well as any Filipino trafficker.

Those present at the event were SK Cebu Federation president and Provincial Board Member Aladin Caminero, Association of Barangay Council president and PB Member Ribomapil Holganza, Ambassador Thomas and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

About 1,000 SK officials and members of Cebu province also witnessed the event.

The covenant also  monitor and document the movements of traffickers, illegal recruiters and their cohorts.

Last June, Caminero submitted a resolution to the Provincial Board for the creation of the SK Mata, which would enlist all SK officers and members to the fight against human trafficking.

Garcia, for her part, said that the covenant would be an added boost to the fight against human trafficking.

The covenant signing is part of a nationwide youth campaign called Traffick Jam with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Meanwhile, in the next two months the ABC in Cebu province will be putting up a barrio travel and location registry.

PB Holganza said this will require all the residents of the province to put up a registry on the address and contact details of family members who are away from their homes.

“We intend to encourage the parents to keep in close touch with their kids and to immediately report to the authorities those who have lost contact,” he added. /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent