Philippines

City Government beefs up move vs trafficking

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By PJ Orias

THE Cagayan de Oro City Government is stepping up its campaign against child trafficking, implementing stricter security in seaports in the city.

City Administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a Jr. said help desks for the protection of children will be installed in Macabalan port.

Sabuga-a said persons accompanying minors will be required to stop at the help desk and shall be asked to present travel documents to prove that they are related.

"Para naa kay klarong clearance kung kinsa ka, imo ba ning anak ning gi-transport para maiwasan ang child trafficking (so that there will be clearance on your identity, whether this is your children that you travel along with, in order to curb child trafficking)," he said.

He said ports are strategic places, since they are the exit and entry points of certain areas.

Sabuga-a said he hopes that other local government units will also copy with this undertaking for a unified effort against human trafficking.

The initiative is the result of an ordinance authored by City Councilor Edna Dahino barring the travel of unaccompanied minors to and from Cagayan de Oro City without proper documentation and providing penalties for its violation.

Dahino said the ordinance is a local version of the national law to address the growing child trafficking problem in Cagayan de Oro City.

She said the ordinance will also identify the responsibilities of the parents or guardians of the children.

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