CAMPAIGNERS. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon sign the pledge of commitment at the launching of the World Day Against Trafficking during the regular flag-raising ceremony on Monday (July 3, 2023). Help desks in selected terminals and ports will be opened as part of the initiatives to support the campaign. (Photo courtesy of Beth Tamayo Alcoran/CSWDO Molo)
ILOILO CITY – The city government joined the global campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking as it officially launched the World Day Against Trafficking during the flag-raising ceremony at the Plaza Libertad on Monday.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, and city councilors with blue hearts pinned on their shirts also signed the pledge of commitment in support of the worldwide campaign.
Social Welfare Officer IV Ruffel Baldevieso, in an interview, said they have a series of activities for July, one of which is the revival of help desks in ports and bus terminals, with the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children taking the lead for the celebration.
“We are working on the dates for the opening of help desks to respond in cases of trafficking,” Baldevieso said.
The help desks are initially to be established at the Ungka terminal and the Vallacar Transit bus terminal, both in the Jaro district and at the Parola Wharf in the City Proper district.
They will be manned by personnel coming from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Philippine National Police, Philippine Ports Authority, and other concerned government agencies.
The help desks will accommodate rescued trafficked persons while their documents are being processed, Baldevieso added.
She said the city government has already established help desks but were shut down during the pandemic.
In a media interview, Treñas said the campaign is very timely because it was only two weeks ago when a non-government organization (NGO) from Cebu sought the help of the city government in addressing online pornography victimizing minors.
He added that the NGO, which he did not mention, will be coming back together with the Philippine National Police because there are already cases filed in Iloilo.
“This program should be supported by everyone because this is against human dignity,” he said.
July has been declared as National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Awareness Month through Proclamation Number 1180 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This year’s campaign anchors on the theme, "Reach Every Victim of Trafficking, Leave No One Behind." (PNA)
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