DOT joining campaign against child traffickers

CEBU, Philippines - With the high tourist arrivals in Cebu, the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas has launched its campaign in the province that seeks to eradicate Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the tourism industry.

DOT Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation Director Maria Rica Bueno said that the Child Wise Tourism program also aims to heighten awareness on how to prevent child sex tourists in the country, specifically in major tourists’ destinations.

“Our advocacy is to combat the exploitation of children in tourism,” Bueno said.

Bueno further stressed that through the program, they are opening the minds of the tourism stakeholders to look into the issue concerning minors involved in sexual exploitation.

The launching was highlighted by the signing of the covenant wherein the government sectors and tourism stakeholders commit themselves to preventing commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Among the signatories were representatives from the PNP, Department of Social Welfare and Development, LGUs and Department of Education.

The Covenant of Commitment include the following provisions: the promotion on the protection of children in tourism industry and in the community; vigilance in situations where children may be at risk of exploitation; the development of appropriate policies on child protection and the encouragement of ethical and sustainable tourism and practices that respect the rights and children, among others.

DOT Regional Director Rowena Lu Montecillo reiterated that they launched the program in Cebu not because of the number of cases recorded but on the number of tourists’ arrivals. However, she said that the there is a downgrade on the tourists who flock to the province.

“Inuuna namin ang Cebu kasi madami ang turista dito, so mas prone,” Montecillo stated.

DOT-7 is aiming for 5.5 million tourist arrivals in Central Visayas at the end of the year. Last year 4.5 million tourist arrivals were recorded.

The launching was attended by grade school children picked by the LGUs in cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and the municipality of Cordova.

In the report presented by the Police Regional Office-7, there were 62 trafficking cases in the region from 2010 to 2013. Of that number 29 were handled by the Women and Children Protection Desk of Different Station.

Records also showed that the Municipality of Cordova recorded the highest cases of trafficking.

Cordova Vice Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho also expressed her support to the campaign, stating that the municipality has come up with legislations and directed the local police to enforce the law.

“First, we have to raise awareness to the public especially to the barangay levels and educators,” she added.

Prior to the launching, training for CWT program was conducted last Friday to 50 tourism stakeholders which include representatives from local police, travel and tour agencies, private sectors, and educational institutions.

The DOT, together with End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism is also working with local ordinance template that will require entrepreneurs to come up a clear policy that will ensure child protection before issuing a business permit. — Michael Vencynth Braga and Zheila Kay Asentista, USJR Masscom interns/BRP (FREEMAN)