Capitol boosts campaign versus illegal trafficking

ITY OF SAN FERNANDO - In an aim to eliminate illegal trafficking in

the provincial government here led by Governor Lilia Pineda yesterday inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to strengthen and expand the law enforcement, cooperation and coordination in the fight against illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons with concerned national government agencies.

The MOA signaled the creation of Task Force AIR-TIP (Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons) composed of the provincial government and local governments in Pampanga as well as national agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Bureau of Immigration, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Clark International Airport Corporation and other concerned departments.

The group will be tasked to monitor and put an end to malpractices such as illegal recruitment and human trafficking which have been victimizing individuals who seek better opportunities overseas.

According to Governor Pineda, dozens of Kapampangans leave the country every day and a significant percentage of it fall victims to illegal recruitment due to lack of awareness and proper education on their rights as overseas workers, as well as the assistance that can be provided by the government.

“Gusto kong sugpuin ang mga pagmamaltrato, ang illegal recruitment at human trafficking na nangyayari hindi lang sa Kapampangan, kundi sa mga Filipino na gusto lang maghanap-buhay at makatulong sa kanilang mga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas. Nagsasakripisyo na nga sila sa ibang bansa tapos kung minsan naloloko pa, o kaya namamaltrato, ayaw ko ng ganun,” she said.

Under the Task Force AIR-TIP, participating government agencies will be conducting information campaigns against human trafficking to educate Kapampangans of the labor laws and their rights as ci t i zen s.

Every municipality and city in the province must also create and maintain a database presenting a masterlist of all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their community classified according to job category, country or state of destination, as well as visa and passport number and contact number of employer which can be generated to monitor the conditions of migrant workers.

The Task Force also mandates all local governments to establish an OFW Help Desk manned by representatives of member-agencies which will provide all kinds of assistance to outgoing and returning migrant workers.

“Sa pamamagitan ng task force na ito, inaaasahan natin na ma-address ang lahat ng problema pangOFW at makapagextend pa tayo ng kaunting tulong para sa kanila at sa kanilang pamilya dahil isa sila sa mga tinuturing natin na makabagong bayani,” the governor said.