Duterte to study proposal to create anti-child trafficking body

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is looking into a proposal to create a body that would handle child trafficking.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government's anti-child trafficking efforts was discussed during a Cabinet meeting last Wednesday.

"The president will review the proposal of special envoy of the president to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Monica Prieto Teodoro to craft an executive order creating an Anti-Child Trafficking Office to address child trafficking in the country," Panelo said in a statement.

The Philippines ranked 12th in the 2018 Global Slavery Index with about 700,000 human trafficking victims.

The dengue epidemic and problems hounding agriculture were also tackled during the Cabinet meeting.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said his agency has prepositioned commodities and logistics in local government units, provided rapid diagnostics test, created a task force and disseminated information campaign materials to address the rising cases of dengue fever. The agency also deployed additional human resources, established hydration stations, and activated dengue fast lanes in hospitals to assist patients.

Agriculture Acting Secretary William Dar, meanwhile, talked about measures to address Fall Army Worm and African Swine Fever.

He said the agriculture department has conducted quarantine in areas affected by the Fall Army Worm. The agency also conducted sanitation and intercropping and promoted the use of inorganic fertilizers.

As regards the possible entry of African Swine Flu in the country, agriculture officials have conducted intensified awareness campaign on local farmers, surveillance, cleaning, and disinfection activities in affected areas. Agriculture officials are still awaiting the results of the viral isolation tests. 

Duterte also directed the National Economic and Development Authority to further review the draft revised National Land Use Act, one of his priority bills.