by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, March 15 - - The city government here in collaboration with the Movement of Anti-trafficking Advocates (MATA), MTV Exit-end Exploitation and Trafficking and Visayan Forum is slated to launch “Traffic JAM-Lihok Mindanaw” on March 23.
Traffic JAM-Lihok Mindanao aims to end human trafficking and modern slavery by conducting a massive information campaign to increase public awareness on this global problem that victimizes mostly women and children.
The organizers will also hold a youth forum to apprise the young of the nature, causes and effects of human trafficking. This will be followed by a seminar-workshop on song writing and composition which is open to all interested participants.
In a related development, the provincial task force against human trafficking composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (DepED), non-government organizations (NGOs) and other law enforcement agencies keeps monitoring cases of human trafficking in the area.
Two years ago, the task force was able to rescue minors from Zamboanga del Sur who were about to board a ship for Manila at the Pulawan port in Dapitan City. Those minors were reportedly recruited to work in Manila. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)
