By Claro A. Lanipa
BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur – To assist and
provide livelihood opportunities for trafficked persons, the Department of
Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 9 (DSWD-FO9) in coordination with
the municipal government Bayog conducted a skills training on crop production
and swine fattening last Friday at the Municipal Swimming Pool function hall.
Twenty victims of forced labor and trafficking rescued
by DSWD-FO9 personnel and members of the Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force
(SBATTF) of Zamboanga City participated in the said training including five
other victims who were able to escape and go home by themselves.
After the training, nine participants in corn
production were given farm inputs amounting to P2,917 each while the other 11
who were trained on swine fattening were each given one piglet with feeds
amounting to P4,015.
On the other hand, nine trafficked persons also
received P2,000 each to support their needs and expenses in securing necessary
documents while looking for jobs. A participant who enrolled this school year
in high school was also given P3,275 for his school uniform and supplies.
The activity was also attended by Vice Mayor Celso Matias,
representing Mayor Leonardo Babasa Jr., Social Welfare Officer II Pacita Aso of
DSWD, Municipal Agriculturiast Nora Paredes and Agricultural Technologist
Edwina Caray who handled the skills training on corn production and swine
fattening, respectively. (FPG/CAL/Bernadine Gabawan/PIA9)