CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday called for vigilance in typhoon-ravaged areas, saying human traffickers may take advantage of the situation.
"There is a need for vigilance because typhoon victims, especially women and children, are easy targets," he said in a message read by Councilor Nenita Ceniza-Layese.
Mandaue City's observance of the International Day Against Human Trafficking yesterday started with a caravan at 6:30 a.m.
A short program at the city hall grounds followed the caravan participated by anti-trafficking councils of 23 barangays.
The International Day Against Human Trafficking is observed worldwide every Dec. 12, but Ceniza-Layese said they decided to commemorate it yesterday when there was no work so more sectors could participate.
Dec. 12 falls on a Thursday.
During the program, International Justice Mission (IJM) national director Andrey Sawchenko lauded the city government for its campaign against human trafficking.
He also said an operator of a club in Mandaue was recently convicted of human trafficking.
The conviction stemmed from the rescue of a trafficked girl from Bohol.
Sawchenko commended the local government for helping the barangays pass their own anti-trafficking ordinance and create their own anti-trafficking councils.
Ceniza-Layese, vice chair of the Mandaue City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat), said only three out of the 27 barangays have yet to adopt an anti-trafficking ordinance but are already in the process of approving one.
One of the features of the ordinance is the creation of an anti-trafficking council.
"Before, the barangays only depend on the city ordinance against trafficking in persons. But now, they see the need to create their own ordinance," Ceniza-Layese said.
She said seven barangays where cases of human trafficking have been reported will undergo a seminar in February next year.
These are Umapad, Paknaan, Mantuyong, Guizo, Subangdaku, Tipolo, and Opao.
"The seminar will help strengthen the implementation of their ordinance," she said. (FREEMAN)