In 2024, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7 – Central Visayas carried out a total of 20 rescue operations upon the requests of various law enforcement agencies.

Victim-survivors include victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) or prostitution, online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) and anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM), human trafficking in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), and sexual abuses on children.

DSWD 7’s rescue team, composed of licensed social workers, worked with the law enforcement agencies to uphold victim-survivors’ best interests and safety while conducting the rescue operations.

Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero pointed out three factors that contributed to the agency’s efficient support to rescue operations. “One is that our pool of social workers are in place, alert 24/7, and ready to be deployed anywhere in the region should there be a request. Second, our centers and residential care facilities are centers of excellence which meet the required standards of facilities should they need temporary shelter. And third, is our improved collaboration and coordination with law enforcement agencies and local government units,” she said.

These factors give confidence to the public and the law enforcement agencies that victims-survivors will feel safe, protected, and assured of the government’s support through DSWD.

In addition, DSWD 7 has a processing center to assess victim-survivors and give possible interventions while waiting for where they can be best placed which will lead them to a path where they can overcome their traumas, get rehabilitation, and prepare them for reintegration safely.

Through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), a comprehensive program for trafficked individuals, about 215 individuals, received various assistance such as psychosocial counseling, educational, livelihood, and medical assistance.

Some of the victim-survivors were also referred for admission to the Department’s centers and residential care facilities, namely Home for Girls and Regional Haven for Women, for temporary shelter.

As of November 25, 2024, the Department has released a total of PHP823,000 to cover the assistance provided by the RRPTP.

Advocacies

As part of the campaign to prevent trafficking in persons and the proliferation of OSAEC at the community level, DSWD led various advocacy activities in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking: Violence Against Women and Children (IACAT7-VAWC).

Activities include awareness raising on trafficking in persons among GAD/VAWC focal personnel of highly-urbanized cities and the safer internet campaign among high school students. ###

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