CPA, NGO sign agreement on anti-child trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Port Authority and a non-government organization have forged an agreement to implement an anti-child trafficking project in Cebu.

The memorandum of agreement was signed by CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan and Orlando Carvajal, the Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors (FORGE Inc.) chairperson.

The parties dubbed the project as “Anti-Child Trafficking Initiatives in the Tourism and Transport Sectors in Central Visayas.”

The project is aimed at raising awareness, preventing and eradicating human trafficking, focusing efforts on children, and tapping and mobilizing the tourism and transport sectors, among others.

The project has eight target cities and municipalities within the province.

It is in consonance with the Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking Law, as amended by Republic Act 10364, which stipulates that a person is prohibited to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, provide, or received a person by any means including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship for the purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation or forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage.

Based on the two-page agreement, CPA shall actively support and participate in any activity organized by FORGE-ACTIV (Anti-Child Trafficking Initiatives in Central Visayas) project on issues of human/child trafficking in Central Visayas that are covered by the project.

It also stated that CPA will contribute, as counterpart for the project, information, education and communication materials, to partners in the transport sectors  (land and sea-based) during awareness campaign to fight against human trafficking and other various forms of exploitation, abuse and violence against women and children.

CPA will also “establish an effective, efficient and safe reporting, and referral and monitoring mechanism for human/child trafficking in the sea-based transport sector.”

FORGE Inc., on the other hand, will facilitate and provide for medication services and trainings on human/child trafficking laws to the sea-based transport sector, aside from assisting CPA in the implementation of the project. (FREEMAN)