CITY OF MALOLOS – In a significant move to address the grave issue of human trafficking, the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) pledged to fight and end the heinous trafficking crime in the province during the Bureau of Immigration Caravan – Stop Human Trafficking – We CARE, We SUPPORT program held at the 7th Floor Function Hall, E-Library of Bulacan State University here yesterday.
With the theme ‘Community Awareness, Responsive Action and Vigilance Against Networking on Human Trafficking’, Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro together with the officials of Bureau of Immigration headed by Deputy Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado; Bulacan State University President Teody C. San Andres; keynote speaker Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Atty. Jose Dominic C. Clavano, IV; PGB Department Heads headed by Provincial Administrator Antonia V. Constantino and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena J. Tiongson; Guiguinto Mayor Agatha Paula A. Cruz and Calumpit Mayor Glorime M. Faustino; and the Philippine National Police signed the declaration of commitment to reinforce strong partnership aiming to prevent, detect, and prosecute human trafficking cases in Bulacan.
In his message, Asec. Clavano highlighted the involvement of local government units in preventing human trafficking due to their proximity to the community, ability to implement local policies, and role in providing direct services; encouraging them to implement community-based programs that educate and empower individuals and reducing their susceptibility to trafficking and to establish local taskforces to monitor and respond to suspicious activities.
“Yung mga magsusumbong po, hindi naman po ‘yan didiretso sa national government, hindi rin po iyan didiretso sa Immigration, dito po iyan tatakbo sa inyo sa local government units,” he said.
As he accepted the duties for the province, Fernando vowed to strengthen the province’s campaigns and programs against forced labor and sex trafficking which predominantly affect women and children through the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC).
“We will never tolerate this in the Province of Bulacan. This horrible crime must end. We must strengthen law enforcement to bring criminals to justice. And we must invest more to help survivors rebuild their lives,” the governor said.
Among these efforts include the conduct of orientations and seminars for the employees and volunteers on handling cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Anti-Online Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC); the existence of active Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC), PCAT-VAWC, and Provincial Council Against Child Labor (PCACL); and the PGB’s partnership for S.H.I.E.L.D Program, which aims to strengthen efforts to prevent child labor.
Pursuant to Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-1 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Justice, the Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and Violence against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) was created to strengthen local structure to collaboratively address the problem of trafficking and VAWC.
