DAGUPAN City is now at the frontline fighting human trafficking.

This was declared by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. when he keynoted the seminar on “Human Trafficking: It’s Legal and Human Rights Dimension” at the Leisure Coast Resort in Bonuan Binloc on December 14.

Resource speaker during the forum was Atty. Evalyn Ursua, executive director of Women’s Legal Bureau, and the private prosecutor in the celebrated Subic rape case, representing the victim Nicole.

“We value our women. We value our children,” intoned Mayor Fernandez as he vowed not to allow human trafficking in the city.

The seminar was organized by Councilor Farah Marie Decano, a lawyer, and city council’s chair of the committee on women and child welfare.

Under an ordinance authored by Decano, adopting the provision of Republic Act No. 9208, flesh trade is banned in the city.

The ordinance paved way for the creation of the City Anti-Flesh Trade Task Force (CATTF) with members from different concerned government agencies   mandated to establish preventive, protective and rehabilitative programs for trafficked persons.

Mayor Fernandez inducted members of the CATTF during the seminar.

While the mayor said that Dagupan City and Pangasinan are fortunate because they are not on the human trafficking watch list, he warned that the city is not completely free from the threat of human trafficking because of the presence of  several bars,  night clubs and massage  parlors   that may be promoting prostitution and the exploitation of women and children.

Meanwhile, Ursua told the participants that RA 9208 must be strictly enforced as the victims of human trafficking are becoming younger.

Saying that white slavery is not dead, she urged the four pillars of justice— police, prosecutors, courts and the penitentiaries “to have a stronger hand against human trafficking that is  victimizing  innocent women and even children.”—J.S.Santiago  CdD

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