by Sheryl A. Joaquin
ZAMBOANGA CITY, 28 Feb. (PIA 9) - - Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (AIR-TIP) Training was conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment, Region 9 last February 17 to 18, 2012. This was attended by PESO Managers in areas with high incidence of illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons activities. A total of 26 participants representing 24 Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) all over the region participated in the 2-day activity.
The AIR-TIP training was the first from among the series of capacity-building activities lined up for PESO Managers this year. It was also the first engagement of the new OIC-Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano with the ZamPen PESO managers.
“As we work together with the PESOs to respond to employment needs of our clients, specifically locating local and overseas opportunities, various challenges confront us. What could be legitimate employment facilitation at the outset may run the risk of being infiltrated by unscrupulous recruitment activities. Hence, the need to intensify awareness and strengthen advocacy through the conduct of Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons (AIR-TIP) training among our program partners is one of the priorities of our department,” said Dir. Cano.
No less than Prosecutor Darlene R. Pajarito, recipient of the 2011 Global Trafficking In Persons Hero Award herself, led the team of Inter-agency Facilitators. Her inputs and sharing of good practices vis-à-vis continuing efforts and commitment despite limitations to combat illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons inspired the participants.
The training aimed to go beyond mere acquainting and familiarizing PESO Managers with applicable laws and the remedial approaches to the IR and TIP problems. It underscored the pro-active role of the PESO Managers as advocates implementing workable strategies in their communities and the Federation of PESO Managers in ZamPen serving as a strategic network to expand the reach of inter-agency efforts to control Illegal Recruitment & Human Trafficking in ZamPen.
The friendly and warm collaboration of resource speakers/facilitators from the Department of Justice, Visayan Forum, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC), Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATFF), DSWD, POEA and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) that provided the IEC materials, contributed to the success of the activity.
Apart from the AIR-TIP topics presented by the inter-agency facilitators, presentation of DOLE’s Philippine Program against Child Labor (PPACL) and Labor Enforcement Action Program (LEAP) were integrated to enable the participants to relate and respond to the complex issues affecting vulnerable women and children.
An open forum allowed participants to clarify specific concerns. They threshed out existing and emerging issues with the resource speakers and among the participants themselves. The exchange was dynamic and participants freely shared their experiences and collective response to issues raised.
“The lessons learned, recommendations and the workshop outputs that the participants have made will be consolidated and incorporated into a regional work plan for ZamPen PESO Managers so that, DOLE, in collaboration with ZamPen Association of PESO Managers, can further develop AIR-TIP advocacy/convergence program at the City/provincial and regional levels,” said OIC-ARD Ms. Virginia L. Bonbon.. (JPA/SAJ/DOLE/PIA- ZBST)