The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) met with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) members on Tuesday, Aug. 15 to intensify its street rescue efforts under the “Oplan Pag-Abot” program, especially during the “ber” months.
In an inter-agency meeting presided over by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, he requested the council’s full support to strengthen the reach-out operations, particularly among indigenous peoples (IPs) roaming the streets who could be possible victims of human trafficking.
“In two weeks time, start na ng ber months and you know what happens during ber months (ber months will start and you know what happens during ber months). The IPs also come to Metro Manila. Our brothers and sisters from the indigenous communities come to Manila because we believe on data from our consultation the other day na may mga masasamang loob (there are people with bad intentions) that is trafficking them to Metro Manila in a syndicated team effort,” Gatchalian said.
“I hope that this scene never happens again. So this early, we are planning in advance,” he added.
Gatchalian also presented the features of the Oplan Pag-Abot Program during the meeting, which includes a rights-based approach that ensures the reach-out procedure continues to adhere to human rights protocols.
Social workers administer biometrics registration of the reached-out families and issue them identification cards as part of the program’s protocols.
“We are the ones reaching out. We put them in our facilities and then we bring them home to their respective home province with the needed economic support,” the DSWD chief explained.
“Apart from that, whenever we get an individual in street situations, we get their biometrics and we give them their own IDs,” he added.
The DSWD started the full implementation of the Oplan Pag-Abot in Metro Manila in July.
Through reach-out operations and the provision of various interventions, the program aims to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of children, individuals, and families living on the streets.