Changing of the guards
DSWD claims “escalation” of human trafficking cases
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reported of 43 confirmed human trafficking cases in the region, citing particularly areas hit by supertyphoon Yolanda. However, barangay officials in so-called “tent cities” in Tacloban, the ground zero of Yolanda, claimed that they have yet to monitor such cases on their respective areas, 10 months after the city was pummeled by the supertyphoon.
Charis Rosal, social welfare officer of the DSWD-8, said that cases of human trafficking were noted to have “escalated” after the region was hit by Yolanda on November 8, 2013.
Rosal said that as of August this year, their office has documented 43 victims, which is relatively higher compare to cases before the region was struck by Yolanda. “This is even higher than the pre-Yolanda figure. In 2013, there were 38 victims,” Rosal said, who is handling the recovery and reintegration for trafficked persons of the DSWD. The social welfare officer made the disclosure during a press conference on Sept.2 initiated by the PECOJON (the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network) in cooperation with International Justice Mission (IJM) and the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) at the UNOCHA(United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian affairs) headquarters in the city.
Rosal confirmed that most victims were children and women mostly from remote villages. She said of the cases that they have monitored, 12 were in Biliran province, 10 in Leyte, 20 in Samar and one in Tacloban.
She said that the DSWD and other concerned groups are gathering significant evidences to build up other cases. She said the victims were recruited and were promised free education, with free board and lodging in Manila. “The few clients we interviewed know they will engage in illicit sex trade in Manila, but still want to try their luck in the big city. They are the hardest to convince and to file cases. They are not aware they are already being trafficked and are already exploited with the offer,” Rosal added. Children and women are still the most vulnerable in trafficking cases she said. Most of the victims were minors and female, only two were male recruits. “It is so appalling that in the interviews we conducted with our clients, we found that some parents had encouraged their children to accept the offers of the respondents to have easy money and a prospect of a better life,” Rosal said. Village officials in San Jose District, worst hit area in the Tacloban where majority of their villagers are living in bunk houses with hundreds still in tents, claimed that they have no cases involving human traffic.
“I am happy to tell you that we don’t have even a single case of human trafficking,” said barangay chairman Imelda Montalban. There are still more than a hundred of families still living in tents in her village whose population of more than 3,000 people decreased with over a thousand of her people perished during the onslaught of Yolanda. This observation of Montalban was shared by village chair Melba Villalino of Brg.89 who said that her people were informed on human trafficking. “Strangers coming to our village asking for some information are to coordinate with us. We ask them what their purpose in coming to our village. This serves as a deterrent for any possible occurrence of human trafficking in our barangay,” said Villalino. There are still 427 families in her village still living in tents.
Manila Assistant Prosecutor Jed Ng said that the agency has established help desks in the region at destination points like in bus terminals, airports and seaports as preventive measures done by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Ng is also the executive director of the Training Division of IACAT. There are also Police Action Centers (PACs) in airports. Ng, who is the executive director of the training division of the IACAT, said that they have conducted trainings and workshops after Yolanda to stakeholders including law enforcers, to raise their awareness, how to spot trafficking cases and assist potential trafficking victims. He added that under Republic Act 10364, an Act Expanding 9208 otherwise known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the penalties for those found guilty of the crime is 20 years imprisonment and fine of not less than P 1million but not more than P 5million depending on the act of trafficking. In a separate interview with Tacloban City Ruperto Golong, Jr., chair of the regional task force on anti-trafficking, pointed out that five cases were already filed in the courts as of August this year, in the cities of Tacloban, Calbayog, Ormoc, Biliran and Calbiga-Catbalogan. Golong, however, laments the very slow prosecution of the human trafficking cases, he wished the government put additional courts. “There is zero-conviction of human trafficking in the region ever since cases been filed in 2004, right after the basic law RA 9208 was passed in Congress in 2013,” Golong said.(vicky Arnaiz)
For the past nine months 200 sought for building permits in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY- The Office of the Building Official on Structural Evaluation (OBOSE) of the Tacloban City Engineering’s Office has approved around 200 building permit applications within the first nine months after supertyphoon Yolanda. Among the 280 processed requests, only around 200 applicants were approved for the request of building permits checked by OBOSE. Engr. Mario Magellan Tezon, head of OBOSE’s structural evaluation section, said that the approved requests building occupancy complied the National Building Code.
“We are implementing the National Building Code not to disapprove but to regulate. Meaning, if something will not fit in to the design, we recommend them have a new and clear plans for the design of the building,” Tezon said.
Tezon said that plans for the building should be professionally made and should be properly presented, incorporating climate change resilient designs. He added that they have to order for stoppage of building construction if they find that modified design does not conform the approved plan. “If something is not in accordance to the plan, we have to stop the construction and then we require them to submit additional application and plans that they have made along the construction of the building like for example in floor design and in all aspect in construction,” Tezon said.
On the other hand, if there is huge deviation like social integrity, the office of the structural evaluation requires the department to submit a table documents that they are to follow in accordance to plan for the construction of building. (JELLY E. CARAAN, LNU Intern)
Yolanda survivors hopes to get chance to dine with Pope Francis during his visit next year
TACLOBAN CITY- The leader of a group composed of survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda disclosed that they are lobbying that some of their members be included among the 30 people who will get the chance to dine with Pope Francis. Efleda Bautista, convenor of the People Surge, group of typhoon survivors, said that they hope that their appeal would be heeded by the organizers of the papal visit. “We’re hoping and we’re doing everything that we’ll have an audience with the Pope,” Bautista said. She, however, admitted that their appeal may be a long shot considering that some officials in the government brand them as “activists.” “Even here in the preparation stage in Tacloban, it seems that People Surge is excluded. So here alone, we are not expecting to be invited to see him,” Bautista added.
Earlier, Archbishop John Du of the archdiocese of Palo revealed that during his visit to Tacloban on January 17, 2015, the Holy Father will dine with 30 people. Of this lucky people, 20 of them are Yolanda survivors while five each will come from Cebu and Bohol which was hit by an earthquake. At present, the organizers have yet to divulge who will be the 30 people who will get the chance of a lifetime of joining the Holy Father for a meal. Bautista said that as part of their effort that some of their group could join with Pope Francis, they are seeking help from their friends at the Vatican. “We are trying our best to get help from our friends in the Vatican to lobby for us. We really hope that we will be included along with those Yolanda victims who will be chosen by the Bishop,” Bautista said. “Veritas has also tried that at least there will be three representatives from People Surge that can personally meet the Pope. We are just hopeful that Veritas will be successful in negotiating this,” she added. (RONALD O.REYES)
Group to provide livelihood assistance to Yolanda survivors in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY – The Harvest Evangelical Free Church will implement various livelihood programs in this city to help survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda rebuild their shattered lives. The Christian institution will provide several projects such as distribution of pedicabs and food carts for making banana cue (sweetened deep fried banana) and barbecue. “We are here in Tacloban to help the community through our livelihood projects. We will also train them how to make flip flops (rubber slippers) which they may use to sustain their needs,” Francis Mabelo, the church’s community development manager, said.
The project will cover 10 to 15 villages in the city and a minimum of 10 families per area as beneficiaries. The organization is not strict with qualifications of recipients because they are aware of enormous need caused by large scale destruction. “In choosing our beneficiaries, we make it a point that we interact with those families who would need help and ask them what they would need,” Mabelo said. “Our team is the one who will identify the beneficiaries for the program and will not rely on the list that would come from the village or to other groups,” he stressed. With the programs and projects that they will implement, Mabelo explained that their programs are based on the strengths and experiences of their beneficiaries to ensure sustainability.
In a recent study that they have conducted, one of the reasons why they chose to implement these projects is because it is suitable to the community. “Based on our initial assessment, flip flop making is very convenient because every Filipino wears slippers. Tacloban’s primary transportation is pedicab and most of them do not own one,” Mabelo said. The group has yet to complete the feasibility study with the actual implementation scheduled this month. (CARYL VIVIEN S.TOMANDA, LNU Intern)
Repair of Santo Nino expected to be finished by November, Fr. Alvero said
TACLOBAN CITY – Repair of Sto Niño Church is expected to be finished before the first year commemoration of supertyphoon Yolanda this November 8. This was learned from Father Amadeo Alvero, social communications officer of the archdiocese of Palo. The Sto Niño Parish, the biggest parish under the 71 churches of the archdiocese, sustained major damaged during the massive typhoon as its roof was blown away. Alvero said that the repair of the church is being rushed not only before Tacloban, considered the ground zero of Yolanda, marked the first year anniversary but before the arrival of Pope Francis on January 17, 2015. Repair of the church started when the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation donated P30 million to the church officials last May, coinciding with the start of the church over-all repair including its rectory.
Under the memorandum of agreement signed between officials of the Tzu Chi Foundation and the Sto Niño Parish, the church officials must also look for additional fund for the repair.
The church still need P15 million to complete the P50 million total budget for the church reconstruction said Fr Alvero, a former assisting priest. According to him, they will source the needed funds from the donations of their parishioners and those who are willing to help the parish. With the ongoing repair, the architectural design of the church was change, like the pointed stained glasses were changed into circular, symbolizing the eye of the storm, the Holy Host and the present altar of the Sto Niño image. Sto Niño Parish was also used as evacuation center during Yolanda but the evacuees were immediately transferred when water started to rise at the nearby Rizal Central School.
Currently, masses are held at the makeshift church inside Rizal Plaza. (ROEL T AMAZONA)