WHILE human trafficking remains a problem for the Philippines, it is gradually being addressed and is in fact one of the reasons why the country has achieved Tier 1 for nine consecutive years in the US government’s Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).
Reaching Tier 1 indicates the country has reached the global and international criteria and standard in combating human trafficking.
This information was relayed to the media by Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano, who also highlighted the accomplishments of President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration in fighting human trafficking.
“So, nagiging model country po tayo in terms of our efforts against trafficking as well as iyong online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. So, that is something that I think the country should be very proud of,” Clavano said.
One reason why we are able to maintain the Tier 1 classification is because of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s initiative to combat human trafficking as Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and a member of the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM.
The DSWD has reported that the agency has provided various interventions to 2,024 victim-survivors of Trafficking in Person (TIP) in 2023. Of this figure, 320 were minors rescued from Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), and trafficking.
“We at the DSWD reaffirm our commitment to protect the welfare of these vulnerable children. We recognize the urgency of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to implement a comprehensive and intensive action plan to combat OSAEC and CSAEM,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said.
In a sectoral meeting last week, President Marcos said the country “is not a safe haven for people who abused and exploited children. This is the absolute worst place for you, and we will make sure you know it."
Out of the 2,024 clients served in the different DSWD Field Offices, 824 or 40.7 percent TIP victim-survivors were male and 1,197 or 59.14 percent were female. In cases involving children, 16 belong to 0 to 6-year age group, 101 are 7 to 12 years old, and 203 are 13 to 17 years old.
Through the DSWD's Recovery and Reintegration Program of Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), the agency provides a comprehensive program that ensures adequate recovery and reintegration services to victim-survivors of trafficking, OSAEC, and CSAEM.
The victim-survivors and their families were provided with a wide array of services including logistical support during and post-rescue operations; temporary shelter; support services such as transportation, medical and educational assistance; and economic reintegration services which include skills training, and financial assistance for employment and livelihood.
The department also conducts a series of workshops and capacity building for its field offices’ personnel to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the program and its responsiveness to the needs of the victim-survivors of trafficking. It also continues to enhance its existing policies and conduct advocacy activities to prevent people from becoming victims of human trafficking.
Despite these activities, Clavano noted that that on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), the President is bothered by the statistics showing the Philippines as one of the most vulnerable countries for the crime.
Being an English-speaking nation and “one of the most text-savvy” countries make the Philippines prone to OSAEC, it was pointed out by the DOJ official.
“So, those considerations make our country very vulnerable. But the President has rallied behind our efforts and has pushed us to do more for our children and the future generations,” Clavano said.
Clavano encouraged Filipinos to be united in fighting crimes against children by reporting cases to the authorities.
We must support this campaign by both the DOJ and the DSWD for the welfare of our children who will run this country in the near future.
Vilma Santos
as National Artist?
There was a big gathering at the Manila Hotel last June 28, during which an organization called AKTOR announced its formal nomination of Vilma Santos Recto for the award of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Media this year.
The announcement was made by actor Dingdong Dantes, one of the leaders of AKTOR, who extolled the merits of Vilma Santos in her original movie career that spans six decades and counting (her career has not ended yet). The nomination of Vilma Santos for this prestigious award for artists is a fitting tribute for her lifetime achievement in the movies and television.
If you claim to have had a career in local movies and you did not have a film credit alongside Vilma Santos, you must have been a lousy movie worker yourself.
It’s good that as a movie scriptwriter of some 60 films produced from 1975 to 1990, I remember one particular movie that I wrote starring Vilma Santos and Eddie Rodriguez. It was entitled “Simula Ng Walang Katapusan,” (1977) and Eddie, who wrote the story and directed it under his own Luis Enriquez Films, even asked me if it should be “Simula Ng Walang Wakas” but I went for the former. It was a love story along the lines of “Nakakahiya” and “Hindi Nakakahiya Part 2” which are both blockbuster hits starring the teamup of Eddie Rodriguez and Vilma Santos.
Vilma has a very long, successful and fruitful career in movies, starting from Trudis Liit (1963) to When I Met You In Hong Kong (2023). It is a span of 60 years. Through the years, Vilma delivered several performances in movies that are indeed worthy of praise, among them “Burlesk Queen”, (1977)“Sister Stella L,” (1984), “Dekada ’70” (2002), “Pahiram ng Isang Umaga,” (1988) and “T-Bird at Ako” (1982). There are many more, including television appearances.
Definitely, Vilma is more than qualified to be one of the country’s National Artists.
My take, however, is that this ultimate award for a Filipino artist should have been given to her much, much earlier… or much later, perhaps. Not this year when her husband is the Secretary of the Department of Finance, and one of the key members of the Marcos Jr. Cabinet. This untimely twist of fate might be used by Vilma critics to cast doubt on the legitimacy of her winning the National Artist recognition. Even if Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has nothing to do about it. Alam n’yo naman sa showbiz…
Remember a few years back when the choice of Carlo J. Caparas for National Artist for Film and Broadcast Media was opposed by many in the visual art and film communities because it had political color (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo used her “presidential prerogative” of choosing four candidates including Caparas). The Supreme Court had to issue a ruling here, stripping Carlo, Mrs. Cecile Guidote Alvarez, and two others of the award.
I wouldn’t want that to happen to Vilma Santos, who fully deserves to be a National Artist.
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A few months into his job as head of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has launched a no-nonsense campaign against smugglers of agricultural products.
He said his office is set to blacklist four traders as it ramps up its crackdown on unscrupulous importers and smugglers of agricultural products.
"You will see in the next few months, I will blacklist a lot of companies, those smugglers,
because that's economic sabotage," Laurel told reporters as he specifically identified the importers without naming names, to be engaged in the importation of rice, fish, and sugar.
Laurel said the DA is also imposing stricter compliance of the declaration of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) before unloading in the country's ports.
"I came up with a new rule that ships should declare their cargoes within 24 hours after leaving their ports of origin) by email to BOC (Bureau of Customs), to us, to DA-IE (Department of Agriculture-Inspectorate and Enforcement) what are their valid SPSIC which they can use for the ship. They can’t get away now," he said.
Laurel earlier ordered the cancellation of the SPSIC issued to a rice importer in Batangas after declaring only 20 percent of the total shipment.
The secretary is also working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which monitors the importation of processed goods, for more stringent border measures to help resolve agricultural smuggling. He talked with Director General Zacate, and they agreed to have an MOU within the year, in which the FDA will deputize the DA-IE to help in enforcement.
He said the move is necessary considering a "disconnect" within the system which some importers are taking advantage of.
"It’s about that loophole where they declare it as processed goods but, in reality, are agricultural products like frozen Peking duck or whatever because the processed goods are not under DA, it's under FDA," he said.
The farmers, consumers, and the economy in general will benefit from this arrangement.
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Sleeping on the job or sheer incompetence (2)
In an era marked by unprecedented digital connectivity and technological advancements, the prevalence of data breaches has emerged as a pressing concern for organizations across various sectors. With the recent spate of high-profile incidents underscoring the vulnerability of personal information to cyber threats, the imperative for robust security protocols and proactive measures to prevent data breaches has never been more critical.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) of the Philippines recently disclosed a significant data breach involving the renowned food giant Jollibee Group, affecting a staggering 11 million customers and highlighting the far-reaching consequences of inadequate data protection measures. Sensitive personal information, including dates of birth and ID numbers of seniors, was compromised in the breach, underscoring the need for stringent safeguards to fortify data security and safeguard individual privacy rights.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the escalating cyber risks faced by organizations in today's digital landscape, where malicious actors exploit vulnerabilities in information systems to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. As businesses grapple with the evolving threat landscape, it is imperative for all entities - be it multinational corporations, government agencies, or small businesses - to prioritize data security and implement comprehensive security protocols to mitigate the risks of data breaches.
The escalating frequency and sophistication of data breaches necessitate a proactive and holistic approach to cybersecurity that places data protection at the forefront of organizational priorities. By fortifying security protocols, fostering a culture of vigilance, and leveraging best-in-class cybersecurity practices, entities can mitigate the risks of data breaches and safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Effective security protocols encompass a multifaceted approach that includes robust encryption mechanisms, stringent access controls, regular security audits and assessments, employee training on cybersecurity best practices, incident response plans, and compliance with data privacy regulations. By adopting a proactive stance towards data protection, organizations can bolster their defenses against cyber threats and minimize the likelihood of data breaches that could compromise customer trust and organizational reputation.
With the evolving regulatory landscape and increasing consumer awareness regarding data privacy rights, organizations must recognize the inherent responsibility to safeguard sensitive personal information and uphold data protection standards. The repercussions of data breaches extend beyond financial losses and regulatory penalties to encompass reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and legal liabilities, underscoring the high stakes involved in securing data assets.
As the digital ecosystem continues to expand and interconnectedness grows, the onus is on organizations to invest in robust cybersecurity measures, cultivate a culture of data security awareness, and collaborate with regulatory bodies to enhance data protection frameworks. By prioritizing data security as a strategic imperative and integrating security measures into their operational practices, entities can fortify their resilience against cyber threats and uphold the trust and confidence of stakeholders in an increasingly data-driven world.
It is important to know that Entities found to be in violation of the Data Privacy Act may face penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the nature of the offense.
The Data Privacy Act of the Philippines is
aimed at regulating the processing of personal information in both the government and private sectors, promoting the responsible handling of personal data, and ensuring the rights of data subjects are respected.
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There is an important and serious issue regarding the impact of libelous statements and cyberbullying on individuals' mental health and well-being. Indeed, the legal system in many countries provides mechanisms to address these harmful actions, and it is crucial for individuals to be aware of their rights and the laws that protect them.
Libel, which involves making false and defamatory statements about someone in written form, can cause significant harm to a person's reputation and mental health. Cyberbullying, which encompasses a range of online behaviors intended to harass, threaten, or embarrass individuals, can have devastating effects, particularly on vulnerable individuals.
While social media platforms and online services offer reporting mechanisms for abusive or defamatory content, their effectiveness in removing harmful content and ensuring user accountability is often limited.
Victims of libel and cyberbullying must pursue legal action. This may involve filing a lawsuit for defamation or seeking a restraining order against the perpetrator. It's important to consult with a legal professional to understand the specific laws and procedures in your jurisdiction.
Addressing cyberbullying and libel requires a comprehensive approach that includes legal action, support systems, and public education. By taking these steps, we can work towards creating a safer and more respectful online environment for everyone.