BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 1 (PIA) --The Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors, Inc. (FORGE) met recently with the members of the Provincial Interagency Council Against Trafficking (PIACAT) in Negros Oriental to address issues on human trafficking.
FORGE is a non-government organization providing social services to the urban poor communities, families, women and children in Metro Cebu. It is currently starting a project called Integrating Child Trafficking Prevention in the Transport and Tourism Sectors in Central Visayas (IINTRAP).
The project aims to contribute to the reduction of child trafficking and to improve access to quality child protection services.
Area Coordinator of FORGE-ACTIVE Project, Dian Kristen Lapingcao informed the media that they are now in the phase of gathering a baseline data on the patterns, flows and routes of human trafficking in Central Visayas of which Negros Oriental is identified as among the provinces with high incidence of different forms of human trafficking.
This is attributed to the geographical location of Negros Oriental which has direct short-ride facilities that transport passengers from various jump-off points to small ports in Cebu province and to other places in the country, Lapingcao added.
Lapingcao further explained that fast and easy mobility to various exit points in the different provinces in Central Visayas and connectivity via the internet has contributed to the increase in illegal and human trafficking activities.
FORGE, Inc. recommends for the activation of municipal level Inter-Agency Councils Against Trafficking, promote child-friendly programs at the local level and tap existing programs that address human and child trafficking especially in the transportation and tourism sectors.
Validated data gathered from the PIACAT members in Negros Oriental will be included in shaping a three-year project plan of FORGE to address the issue of child trafficking in Central Visayas. (mbcn/lpp/PIA-7/Negros Oriental)