The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) on Thursday, Aug. 22, launched its barangay (village) information drive in Antipolo City "to empower and engage communities to join the fight against human trafficking."
The IACAT, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), said the information drive in Antipolo City dubbed "Barangay IACAT 2.0" will be conducted until Aug. 24.
"The crusade to eradicate human trafficking starts with us, within the solitude of our own homes and communities,” said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, IACAT chairperson.
“Through our unity, collective efforts and shared wisdom, we become the most formidable foes whom human predators shall never defeat," he also said.
In a statement, the DOJ said "the activity, materialized by video presentations, lectures, roundtable question and answer sessions, fellowship gatherings, motorcades and other learning activities, intends to utilize a community-based approach in fighting Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) by educating local officials and citizens on how to prevent or respond to human trafficking situations prevalent within their communities."
“This will also empower the community as a whole to prioritize prevention over reactive measures versus human traffickers, fostering a sense of collective responsibility among residents that they can make a difference,” it also said.
The DOJ noted that “the Philippine government has been globally recognized for its unwavering efforts in battling human traffickers and online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) as highlighted by the country's retainment of its Tier 1 status for the ninth consecutive year in the United States State Department's Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) report.”