The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has convened the members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to discuss ways on further strengthening child protection and preventing child trafficking.

Director Edmon Monteverde of the DSWD’s Protective Services Bureau (PSB) presided over the coordination meeting at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Wednesday (March 19).

The meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs, IACAT Officer-in-charge Executive Director Hannah Lizette Manalili, and other heads and representatives of the member-agencies.

The meeting focused on discussing and addressing potential trafficking cases encountered in the travel clearance application of minors travelling abroad through the newly-launched Minors Travelling Abroad (MTA) system of the DSWD.

Asst. Secretary Colico emphasized the importance of fostering strong collaboration with IACAT and other relevant agencies to ensure that effective measures are in place to protect minors and prevent trafficking risks.

“Strengthened partnerships will help ensure that the Centralized Processing Office for Minors Traveling Abroad (CPO-MTA) implements comprehensive and effective mechanisms, including stricter monitoring, and policy enforcement to prevent and address child trafficking,” Asst. Secretary Colico said.

Atty. Manalili highlighted the importance of thorough assessment and verification during the application process, which is crucial in identifying potential red flags before minors leave the country.

The discussion also stressed the need for coordinated efforts of IACAT and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to further investigate potential trafficking cases and ensure a proactive approach to protect vulnerable minors. (YADP)