By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for a stronger advocacy against human trafficking, especially in areas where there is a high poverty incidence.

“There is a need to intensify the advocacy against human trafficking, especially in Mindanao, since the region has now become prone to natural calamities and poverty incidence is still high,” DSWD Undersecretary Luzviminda Ilagan said.

In 2018, DSWD served 2,318 victims-survivors of human trafficking nationwide. Of this number, 569 came from Regions 9, 10, 11, and 12. In 2017, some 528 victims-survivors were assisted by the Department in the four regions.

“Evacuation centers are places to watch in the aftermath of man-made or natural disasters because these are where trafficking happens,” Ilagan pointed out.

She noted that even when victims knew the danger, they succumbed due to pressing needs.

“There is a need to keep an eye on evacuation sites where a number of women have been trafficked,” Ilagan said

“Even if they know that something is wrong with illegal recruitment, but because of the need, they relent to it,” she added, explaining further that poverty and the desire to help their families lure victims, who are usually women, to try their luck in major cities or abroad.

“Hence, they often fall prey to illegal recruiters,” she added.

She also pointed out that families and communities should be made aware of the dangers of trafficking or the transport of people who are being exploited through deceptive promises usually of good jobs.

She noted the need for public information, inter-agency cooperation, and strengthening of local trafficking councils, which should be funded by local government units because of some expenses that would be incurred in running the affairs of such council.

It is important to sustain this campaign and this inter-agency council but it has to be all of government approach because one agency cannot do it alone, Ilagan added.

The Department, together with other national government agencies comprising the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, monitors the implementation of Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

It is an act expanding Republic Act 9208 titled “An act to institute policies to eliminate trafficking in persons especially women and children, establishing the necessary institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of trafficked persons, providing penalties for its violations and for other purposes.”

DSWD assists trafficked persons under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), which ensures that they are extended with adequate recovery and reintegration services.

RRPTP utilizes a multi-sectoral approach and delivers a complete package of services to enhance the psychosocial, social, and economic needs of the clients. This includes temporary shelter; skills training; psycho-social counseling; transportation, financial, medical, educational, and livelihood assistance; as well as, referral to other agencies for additional needed interventions.

The beneficiaries of the program include the victims-survivors of trafficking who are returning or have returned to the Philippines, their families and relatives, and communities with a high incidence of trafficking.