ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IX recently provided livelihood assistance to six (6) women-survivors of trafficking. The assistance, in the form of checks amounting to P10,000 for each beneficiary is through the department’s program on Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons.
Ms. Ma. Socorro Rojas, Focal Person for Trafficking said that DSWD’s intervention does not end in rescuing victims of illegal recruiters but continuously look into the welfare of these victims from their psychosocial wellness to reintegration into their families and communities. She further revealed that the department which aims for the empowerment of these women, provided assistance to encourage them to start small-scale businesses and other livelihood activities that will generate income to sustain their daily needs.
Of the six recipients, five were survivors of local human trafficking and one of a cross border trafficking whose recruiter was convicted and jailed in 2010. The Zamboanga City court has the first human trafficking conviction in the Philippines.
In a short interview with the women, they expressed their plans and hopes to be successful in their ventures with the amount provided to them by DSWD. They also disclosed that prior to the awarding of the assistance, they underwent social preparation and basic business management training to equip them with fundamental skills in managing simple business that they are about to come up with.
Records reveal that lack of job opportunities or limited employment is one of the main causes why Filipinos easily accede to offers by illegal recruiters. In most cases, victims were promised decent jobs with good salaries. Zamboanga City, with its international airport and sea port tend to be the most easiest and unpopular exit to Southeast Asian countries. Inter-agency groups such as the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking (RIACAT) and Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force ensure regular monitoring of airport and seaports to include bus terminals in the city. (JPA/ Narrabelle Z. Bue /DSWD/PIA-ZBST)