Mr. Chairman, my distinguished colleagues:
More and more people are becoming aware of the horrors of human trafficking. Yet the crime persists. In our country, laws to stop human trafficking are still not adhered to and implementation remains inadequate.
Few criminals are convicted and the majority of victims never receive help. The true extent of this crime is unknown. That in itself is a problem that deserves further attention. The criminal nature of the phenomenon, the lack of legislation, benign neglect in some quarters and denial in others make information collection a challenge.
Along with this, serious attention in our province must intensify efforts to disseminate awareness against illegal recruitment and human trafficking in our barangays, especially in far-flung areas, where these syndicates usually look for would-be-victims.
It is imperative to have a serious examination on the recruitment and placement activities conveniently done at the barangay level and to provide for a stringent requirement in the conduct thereof in order to curtail this social epidemic, being an insult to rule of law and a violation of the fundamental rights of the individual.
Distinguished colleagues, behind these are stories of individuals, whose freedom of choice is impaired by desperation or helplessness, thus rendering them vulnerable to exploitation. Victims are subjected to forced labor, domestic servitude and forced marriage, organ removal and sale, sex trade, and exploitation of children.
Worthy to note, Mr. Chairman, my honorable colleagues of this eminent body, Section 16 Paragraph (j) of Republic Act No. 9208, "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003," provides that “(l)ocal government units (LGUs) shall monitor and document cases of trafficking in persons in their areas of jurisdiction, effect the cancellation of licenses of establishments which violate the provisions of this Act and ensure effective prosecution of such cases.” The general welfare clause, which empowers the local government units to enact and implement measures for the general well-being of the inhabitant as embodied in Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as theLocal Government Code of 1991. Also, Article II, Section 18 (of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines), the State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.
We have a moral duty and a legal obligation to fight human trafficking. It is time to unite and to act. Our challenge now is to harmonize our policies, build capacities of every barangay that is within the jurisdiction of the Province of Northern Samar, and strengthen enforcement and prosecution. It is vital that our strengthened anti-trafficking measure promote complementation in the roles of various barangay.
Mr. Chairman, I respectfully call on each one of my distinguished colleagues to vote for the immediate passage of this (proposed) ordinance requiring the mandatory registration of all forms of recruitment and placement activities conducted in a barangay, providing funds for its initial operations and for other purposes.
Penalties will also need to be implemented to ensure that we exact the appropriate punishment, taking into consideration the gravity of offenses.
The ordinance will improve coordination between province and barangays that work to fight the problem of threat of violence, exploitation and trafficking of innocent persons and to ensure their recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the mainstream of society.
Thank you and good morning!