Villar bill seeks to end exploitation of Filipino women

Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar has filed a bill seeking to stop "once and for all" the trafficking and exploitation of Filipino women.

Villar filed his bill after noting that Republic Act 6955, the law against Mail Order Bride authored by Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta, is not enough to stop the practice of trafficking.

"There is a need for more effective and aggessive measures as the scope of present laws are not enough to protect our women," Villar said.

Villar cited reports of women from the provinces being brought into Metro Manila and other urban areas and forced into prostitution.

"There were also reports of Filipino women hired as domestic helpers and other jobs abroad being sold by international syndicates," he said.

His bill seeks to marshal the coordinated efforts of various government agencies in performing specified tasks for a common objective.

"The Department of Tourism, for instance will be asked to formulate guidelines against sex tour packages," Villar explained.

He added that the Department of Labor and Employment must enforce strict guidelines in the employment of women here and abroad to prevent their exploitation.

"The Department of Interior and Local Government will be tasked to strictly monitor women-trafficking activities at the local level to effectively clamp down on the activities of white slavery syndicates," Villar said.

His bill seeks to impose stiffer penalties for those found guilty of exploiting Filipino women. – Efren Danao