By Jojo B. Lamaria
BAGUIO CITY, July 10 (PNA) — Baguio City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda spearheaded a Multi-sectoral Consultation on Anti-Trafficking in Persons at the Baguio City Hall Multi-Purpose Hall on July 9, Thursday, which was graced by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
The consultation was attended by Representative Nicasio Aliping, Jr., Mayor Mauricio Domogan, representatives from the government and non-government agencies tasked in the prevention and suppression of trafficking and the protection of women and children.
The consultation highlights the fight against “modern-day slavery” and to support the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Goldberg, in his speech, elated the city officials when he said the US Embassy considers Baguio City as its second home.
“It is especially nice to be with a group that is diverse in its responsibilities but coming together to try to confront a problem that is very important to the world and for this country,” he said.
“This has to be a concerted effort and it is very encouraging to see government especially with your local leadership and your national leadership, to your congressman coming together, your local government officials, the law enforcement and all the NGOs and the private sector who have chosen to deal with trafficking,” Goldberg said.
Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, the ambassador said, underlining the case of Filipino Mary Jane Veloso who was a victim of drug syndicates.
“The population here in the Philippines is so vulnerable to this form of human slavery, it is easy to see why, so many Filipinos are searching for work especially abroad.
If you are given the idea that you are going to find a job and instead you are tricked in a most inhuman way into doing something else, in some case drug trafficking and other cases prostitution at no fault of the victim”, Goldberg said.
Education, he said, will help solve the problem, not just learning about the issue but also education for the young.
Goldberg said the US government estimates, at least, 27 million people fall victim to human trafficking in the world and about 80 percent of commercially exploited victims of the sex trade are women and girls, 75 percent of the girls are 17 years old and under, while 6 percent are younger than 12 years old.
The US government and the state department are extending their assistance by encouraging groups around the world and in the Philippines through competitive grants to non-government organizations (NGOs) dedicated to the cause, Goldberg said.
Combating trafficking in persons is not just a US-Philippine effort. Last June 3, the US Embassy was joined by 15 government agencies, 19 embassies in the Philippines and 11 NGOs in signing the Manila Declaration to Enhance International Cooperation in combating human trafficking.
Statistics provided for by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Women and Children’s Desk show that 6 percent of human trafficking victims are 12 years old and below, 69 percent are 13 to 17 years old and 25 percent are of legal age.
Nature of cases are 57.14 percent with the pretext of domestic employment, 14.29 percent are organized travel plans, 14.29 percent are illegal adoption and 14.29 percent is abduction. (PNA)