“The collective wisdom and diverse perspectives from this dialogue, borne out of years of experience working against human trafficking, will undoubtedly serve as a foundation as we innovate and formulate more effective policies, programs, and approaches in combating this heinous crime.”
This was the main message of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian as he spoke before the delegates from the Kingdom of Cambodia in the final day of the Regional Dialogue and Knowledge Exchange between the Philippines and Cambodia on Wednesday (April 30).
Secretary Gatchalian, as one of the representatives of the Philippine Government and co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), said the dialogue is the beginning of an enhanced partnership between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia against human-trafficking.
“More than the exchange of ideas, this dialogue is the beginning of an enhanced partnership and collaboration between our nations as we share a unified goal of exploring strategies that are not just responsive, but strategies that pro-actively adapt to the evolving nature of human trafficking,” the DSWD chief said.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, the discussions between the two countries signified their determination to find the best solutions to prevent vulnerable individuals from becoming victims and safeguard local and regional communities at-risk.
“It also represents the resolve of our nations to bring perpetrators to justice, and to ensure that trafficked victims are cared for and nurtured into safety, recovery and rehabilitation,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
As part of the last day of the knowledge exchange, the Philippine and the Cambodian delegations visited the former POGO hub located at the Nasdake Building in Pasay City.
The DSWD also showcased its social welfare initiatives, such as the Pag-Abot Program and the Walang Gutom Kitchen, to the Cambodian delegates.
The Pag-Abot Program is one of the innovative interventions of the DSWD which aims to reach out families, children, and individuals in street situations while the Walang Gutom Kitchen seeks to address involuntary hunger and reduce food wastage by turning donated surplus food from hotels, restaurants, and organizations into hot meals for individuals experiencing hunger.
The Pag-Abot Program Processing Center and the Walang Gutom Kitchen are both located at the Nasdake Building.
The Cambodian delegation include Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior, and the Permanent Vice Chairperson of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) Chou Bun Eng; Secretary of State, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation Nhel Vannara; Kingdom of Cambodia Ambassador to the Philippines Sin Saream; and other high-level officials.
From the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary Gatchalian was joined by Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty; Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Flerida Ann Camille Mayo; Asst. Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the DSWD’s International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (IAASA); and other government officials. (YADP)