DOLE, PIACAT intensify drive vs. illegal recruitment & human trafficking
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 27 (PIA) The Labor Department in coordination with the Provincial Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking of Negros Oriental has stepped up its drive against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The campaign has strengthened in the wake of complaints reported recently of 38 fish workers against Pesca Maharlika MarineResources, Inc., fishing company based in Navotas,Malabon suspected of large scale illegal recruitment, human trafficking and child labor.
DOLE Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac urged local government officials in the province to assist campaign efforts, saying the battle against the menace of illegal recruitment and human trafficking needs concerted action.
It is noted that Negros Oriental is one of the sending province of workers in fishing vessels as deep-sea divers.
DOLE reported, in the case of Pesca with an annual send off of five boats loaded with 250 “pescadores” or an average of 1,250 Negrense involved in this fishing expedition in high seas somewhere in Palawan.
“House-to-house recruitment, especially in rural areas, is the clearest indication of illegal recruitment because under the law, lawful recruitment should be done in the office of a licensed recruitment agency,” said Cacdac.
For his part, DOLE-7 regional director Exequel Sarcauga pledged to help the victims of Pesca through a livelihood training assistance under the department’s worker’s income augmentation program (WINAP).
While Provincial Governor Roel Degamo will convene the PIACAT members on July 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Sidlakang Negros Village to tackle and address the human trafficking faced by the province.
IACAT is the primary body tasked to coordinate, monitor, and oversee the implementation of programs against trafficking in persons as provided for by RA No. 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Jejomar Binay has announced the “Actionline 1343” for quick reporting of human trafficking is now available for free
To access the actionline outside Metro Manila, one should dial area code 02 then 1343, while those outside the country may dial 632 (63-international access code, 2-country code) then 1343. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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KALAHI-CIDSS benefits Bohol & Siquijor
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 26 (PIA) The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started implementing the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) this month in Bohol and Siquijor in Central Visayas.
The KALAHI-CIDSS, government’s poverty reduction program to benefit 12 towns in Bohol and two in Siquijor from the $120 million Philippine support from the US Millennium Challenge Corporation.
DSWD Regional Social Marketing Officer Kaye Pantinople said the program has launched recently the local government unit- facilitated ‘Makamasang Tugon’ highlighting the Awarding of Notice to Proceed and the Commitment Signing Ceremony.
Pantinople said the 'Awarding of Notice to Proceed' urged the municipalities to begin implementing the KALAHI-CIDSS process as soon as members of their Municipal Coordinating Team completed the required technical training.
On the other hand, the 'Commitment Signing Ceremony' asked all provincial and municipal leaders to sign a commitment to fully support the program until its projected completion in June 2012.
The DSWD targets beneficiaries of the poorest municipalities with poverty incidence of at least 33 percent.
The Bohol municipalities of Danao, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Getafe, Talibon, Ubay, San Miguel, Carmen, Pilar, Mabini, Carlos P. Garcia, and Trinidad and Siquijor towns of Enrique Villanueva and Siquijor are covered of the project.
The package involves 454 sub-projects, which identification is community demand-driven (CDD), in 14 municipalities covering 349 barangays, each getting P500,000.
The projects include bridges, common service facilities, Day Care centers, drainage systems, electrification, irrigation systems, health stations, multi-purpose buildings, post-harvest facilities, roads, schools, water systems and many others.
Bohol governor Edgardo Chatto and the municipal mayors, vice mayors, and municipal representatives in Bohol and Siquijor expressed their full support by participating in the project launching activity held separately at Talibon Cultural Center and at Capitol Square in Siquijor.
Governor Chatto expressed his full support and appreciation to the government's program and DSWD’s efforts to address the widening gap of the rich and poor sectors in the community. (PIA NegOr/JCT
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Fun run for university scholarship program set
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 26 (PIA) --- The Silliman University Alumni Association (SUAA) is gearing up for “Run 2011: Run to Educate,” a run to mark the 110th founding anniversary of Silliman University in August this year.
Open to the public, the run will kick off at 5:30 a.m. on August 7, 2011 at the Gate of Knowledge, Hibbard Avenue and follow routes that will end at SU's Uytengsu Foundation Computer Center.
Registration fees are at P300 for 1.1 K and 5.5K and P350 for P11K. Engr. Siegfried Sia of the SU Cebu Alumni Association which is spearheading the run, said that they are targeting 3,000 runners to sign up for the race on August 7, 2011, during which participants can join under three categories, namely: 1.1K for school children and elderly, 5.5 K for young adults and 11K for running enthusiasts and professionals.
Around 1,500 runners have already signed up to date and organizers are confident that they will reach if not exceed their 3,000 goal.
The event is aimed at generating funds to increase the number of recipients of SU's scholarship programs. “If we reach our target number of runners, we are looking at giving scholarships for four incoming students for any four-year course at the university,” said Sia.
This is the second run organized by the SU Cebu Alumni Association, the first of which was held last year at the Ayala Center in Cebu. “We wanted to bring home the event this year and make it a yearly event here from now on,” added Sia.
This is the sixth run organized in Dumaguete City since February this year as the interest for running as a healthy lifestyle have gained popularity among the locals in the past few months, said Paultom Paras of the Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club which is also helping organize the Run to Education. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)