Other LGUs urged: Follow Cebu’s model

CEBU, Philippines - The International Organization for Migration, an intergovernmental organization, wants the anti-human trafficking ordinance of the province of Cebu be replicated in other provinces in the country, especially in typhoon-stricken areas.

Romina D. Sta. Clara, national program coordinator of IOM, commended the pro-vince’s measures to combat human trafficking incidents, as well as child exploitation, by crafting policies that facilitates reporting of any form of exploitation.

“Cebu province has localized number for rescue assistance and support for temporary shelter for victims of human trafficking. Resort and hotel owners are also asked to report. We are very happy about that. These are the things that we are going to share to the other areas so they can follow… It (trafficking) is a global issue but (we are) mobilizing local resources to respond to the challenges of human trafficking,” Sta. Clara told reporters.

Sta. Clara is referring to the 2014 Anti-Child Sex Tourism Ordinance of Cebu that seeks to penalize child sex tourism.

Under the ordinance, imprisonment of one year and a fine of P5, 000 will be imposed against the perpetrators of the acts prohibited under the policy. The penalty does not preclude the application of other administrative penalties as prescribed by other existing laws.

It prohibits a person from organizing, promoting or conducting sex tour or travel package in which a child is included for the purpose of matching him or her for sex or any sex-related conduct or behavior, hiring a child to work in a tourism or commercial establishment “that may unnecessarily expose the child to sex tourism or exploitation,” allowing a child to perform lascivious or lewd shows before any electronic audio-video device, among others.

The idea of replicating the province’s ordinance was discussed yesterday during the two-day meeting of the stakeholders of the OIM funded Victim-Oriented Counter-Trafficking Project held at the Capitol.

The Victim-Oriented Counter-Trafficking Project, funded by the IOM, had its first launching in Tacloban City last month, in cooperation with the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, and the United States-States Department Office.

Sta. Clara explained that the project aims to improve awareness of the people and the access to referral channels for those affected by Yolanda. As part of the project, the IOM will conduct awareness-raising campaigns in typhoon-ravaged areas of Tacloban City, Ormoc, and Cebu.

“We selected these areas among so many areas affected by typhoon Yolanda, because you have so many people traveling, taking the roads and airports. Every disaster, any crises contributes for many people who lost their homes and who have been detached from their original families, to become vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and promises for a good life,” Sta. Clara added.

The public is urged to help combat human trafficking by reporting through the 1343 actionline, a 24/7 national hotline facility established to respond to trafficking cases.

The 1343 action line also has a mobile application which can be downloaded for free from Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/ in any android-capable devices mobile phones and tablets.

The IOM and its partner agencies have put up information materials and help desks in different access points in Cebu like in Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Cebu South Bus Terminal. — (FREEMAN)