ILOILO CITY (PIA) - - Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin appealed to local government units to help in addressing the issues of human trafficking.

“We need eyes and ears in your communities. Indi masarangan sang Regional Office alone. Kinanglan namon kamo,” Garin said.

This was her message during the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO)  forum in the observance of the World Day Against Trafficking on August 2, 2022 here, held at Casa Real de Iloilo.

The forum covered the following topics: Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as discussed by Sunshine Grace Arquintillo from DSWD VI; Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons by Xzyrabelle M. Servento from DSWD VI; and the Program for Resilience of Ilonggos in Mind and Emotions (PRIME) by Don F. Sasu from the PSWDO.

It was attended by the members of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) and Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) in Iloilo; Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) officials; and representatives from the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons-Violence Against Women and Children, and the Provincial Council on the Protection of Children.

This year’s theme “Use and Abuse of Technology” aims to enhance collaborative effort in addressing human trafficking at the national and community level. (Story and photo by Karen Joyce Pumaren and Ma. Therese Taghap/Capitol)