Human trafficking in RP becoming more alarming

MANILA, Philippines – Despite the passage of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, human smuggling continues to be the third most profitable crime in the world next to the illegal drug trade and arms dealing.

According to the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VFFI), a non-government organization focused on the war against human trafficking in the Philippines, illegal recruiters are now finding more ways to sell Filipinos abroad as sex slaves, abused workers, and prostitutes.

Though no accurate data is available regarding the rate of human smuggling in the country, the national government and the public should be made aware of how alarming the situation is, the group said.

VFFI president and executive director Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda said human trafficking rates are increasing, with women and children of Manila now being brought to places like Zamboanga and General Santos City so that they can exit the Philippines illegally.

She said their group encountered a case of a Filipina who was forced to work as a sex slave in Malaysia. They said the Filipina had a notebook where the number of men who have had sex with her are counted like votes.

She noted that one way to address the problem is to counter a culture of migration which makes young Filipinas want to be dancers instead of college graduates because of the willingness to take the risk of working abroad that has been ingrained in the Filipino psyche.

MANILA, Philippines – The VFFI, she explained, is fighting for “life, freedom, future, and people” because there is still so much to be done to really wage a war against human trafficking.

Oebanda made the statements during the launch of Microsoft Philippines’ revitalized Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People through Unlimited Potential (Step-UP) program, which has been providing computer literacy training to underprivileged Filipino youth and adults who have become or are in danger of becoming victims of human smuggling.  

Oebanda lauded the initiative, which is giving the poor a chance to learn new skills that make them want to develop themselves and work in the country instead of taking the risk of illegally working in a foreign country.

Committed to doing their share in fighting human trafficking, Microsoft Philippines and VFFI announced an expansion of the Step-UP campaign to further boost their chances of finding better jobs.

As part of the expansion, Microsoft gave software and cash grants worth more than P12 million to the VFFI to strengthen the group’s work for the welfare of marginalized migrants, according to Microsoft Philippines managing director Rafael Rollan.

The grant will enable VFFI to engage more NGOs and open 10 new Step-UP centers in different cities, provinces, and regions nationwide, including Bulacan, North Cotabato, Western Samar and Zamboanga. These are in addition to existing centers in Bacolod, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Davao, Manila, Quezon City, and other locations.

The project was introduced in May 2006, coinciding with the anniversary of the signing of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Since the launch of the program almost three years ago, Microsoft Philippines and VFFI reported that over 10,000 persons have received IT skills training in learning centers operated by VFF and its partners nationwide.

Rollan said around 33 percent of the program’s graduates have been able to find alternative employment while many have also decided to pursue further education.

Through Step-UP, program participants undergo training on leadership and inter-personal skills and IT-related modules which are useful in building their knowledge and capabilities. 

The curriculum also includes courses on computer basics, Word Processing, Presentation, Database, and Spreadsheet fundamentals, digital media, Internet, and Web design. Advanced courses on PC troubleshooting and hardware repair are also available. VFFI also offers a Life Skills Training module which complements the Step-UP curriculum.