The provincial government of Cotabato is eyeing a more intensified program for migrant workers as Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco pushes for a more improved information-dissemination campaign on government’s anti-trafficking program and to organize immediately the local anti-trafficking board or the Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
This developed after the Governor had a meeting in her office with Prosecutor Benjie Samson of the Department of Justice and with the personnel of the Commission on Filipino Overseas on July 17 where updates on the plight of the migrant or overseas workers from the province were discussed.
Prosecutor Samson disclosed that the province is Number 2 in the entire SOCCKSARGEN Region with the most number of migrant workers and some of them experienced labor exploitation overseas.
Records also show that some victims of human trafficking being intercepted in NAIA were coming from the towns of Matalam, Carmen, Pikit and Pigcawayan, according to the Prosecutor.
In 2002, the national government has created the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking or IACAD to address the rising number of human trafficking victims and extend them with immediate help.
Governor Catamco has requested Prosecutor Samson to immediately forward recommendations to her office so that trainings necessary for the organization of the anti-trafficking council in the province commences very soon. //ozg\\
