The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended immediate psychosocial intervention and other protective services to the 10 trafficked minors who were recently rescued in Sual, Pangasinan.
“These children have been through traumatic experiences and require safety, emotional healing, and long-term support. Ipinag-utos ng ating kalihim na si Secretary Rex Gatchalian na sila ay agad tulungan para maka-recover at ma-reintegrate sa kanilang mga pamilya at komunidad,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Friday (May 9).
The rescue operation was conducted on May 1 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division and Special Task Force, with the support of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Sual, Pangasinan.
According to the DSWD spokesperson, the 10 minors were brought to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) for temporary shelter, where they were visited by the Department’s social workers to assess their needs and provide initial psychosocial intervention.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said one of the rescued male minors from Bani, Pangasinan, was successfully reunited with his family on Wednesday (May 7), following the submission of the Parental Capability Assessment Report (PCAR).
“We are currently assessing the needs of the family. Tinitingnan natin kung puwede silang mabigyan ng livelihood assistance sa ilalim ng Reintegration and Recovery Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) ng DSWD,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
The agency is also currently coordinating with the concerned Local Social Welfare and Development Offices for the reintegration of two other minors with their families who are working in Sual, in their home province.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the three rescued female minors—one with a physical disability and two who are pregnant in their third trimester—will be transferred to the DSWD’s Home for Girls for protective custody and further psychosocial care.
“Ang human-trafficking ay isang krimen. Kinokondena ng DSWD ang ganitong klaseng krimen, lalo’t higit pa na menor de edad ang nagiging biktima. Patuloy kaming makikipag-ugnayan sa mga menor de edad na ito at kanilang pamilya upang malaman kung ano pa ang maaaring tulong na maibigay ng DSWD ayon na rin sa marching order ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr na tulungan ang mga bulnerableng sektor na nasa krisis,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (YADP)