The provincial government of Negros Occidental yesterday marked the World Day Against Trafficking with a Blue Heart Campaign, a walk around the capitol environs, and a program at the Activity Center of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, which featured a forum on anti-trafficking laws and a panel sharing on addressing trafficking in person.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Committee Against Trafficking, Child Pornography, and Violence Against Women, the WDAT culmination was attended by more than 200 stakeholders from the PGNO, national agencies, civil society organizations, and local governments particularly, LCAT Focal Persons from Social Welfare and Development Offices, Liga ng mga Barangay Presidents, and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation presidents.
Officers of the Council of Child Representatives, ERPAT or Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities and Talents, and Provincial Council for Women also attended the morning’s event.
Board Member Rita Gatuslao, chair of the SP Committee on Women and Family and co-chair of PCAT-CP-VAWC, led the heart formation at the Capitol Lagoon Park and the walk along the capitol environs.
At the program inside the Ayala Mall, Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer Chiqui Gonzales welcomed the participants while Atty. Andrea Lizares-Si read the message of Board Member Rita Gatuslao who underscored “the need to protect the children and to fight tirelessly until every child is free from the threat of trafficking.”
In his message read by Charina Magallanes-Tan, PCAT member and head of the Promotion and Information Section, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on all stakeholders to help end human trafficking, which is modern-day slavery.
Fiscal Stephanie Grace Apsay, spoke about various anti-trafficking laws including Republic Act 11862, 10364 and 9208.
A panel discussion moderated by Marie June Castro, action officer of the Provincial GAD Focal Point System, featured Atty. Arnel Sigue, lawyer of the first anti-trafficking case involving a Negrense which secured a conviction; Dionela Flores-Madrona of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking, Ma. Berjane Salvio-Roa of the Voice of the Free and PCapt. Wilma Silva of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office.
The guests shared their experiences in handling TIP cases as well as the various programs and services to address or prevent human trafficking.
Educating the youth and the community came on top of the list of suggestions from almost all speakers.
Members of PCAT-CP VAWC, including Fiscal Hermes Ariño of the Provincial Prosecutors Office, and Manuel Fayre, Jr., head of the National Bureau of Investigation, pledged the support of their offices to the advocacy during their solidarity messages.
The heads of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Provincial Police Office also sent solidarity messages, as read by their representatives.
Board Member Mayvelyn Madrid, SK Federation President, thanked the various stakeholders for the importance given to the youth and for giving them spaces, and for allowing their voices to be heard.
The closing message of Board Member Richard Julius Sablan, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay was read by the ABC President of the Municipality of Ilog.
Sablan urged everyone to continue the fight against human trafficking by utilizing social media to amplify impact and bring about meaningful change, a press statement from the provincial government said.*
