PASAY CITY – The Philippines and Cambodia have exchanged ideas in an effort to strengthen their fight against human trafficking—a serious issue both countries are currently facing.
A Cambodian delegation is in the Philippines for this exchange , composed of officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and the General Department of Immigration.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary and Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT) Co-Chairperson Rex Gatchalian emphasized the need to reinforce protocols and align standards in combating human trafficking.
Gatchalian stressed the importance of regional cooperation to ensure that victims of trafficking are properly protected.
“Kami sa dswd , inutusan tayo ng pangulo na siguraduhin na ang mga naging biktima ay napapangalagaan at importante na we reach out on a regional level “Gatchalian said.
He also recalled that many Filipinos who were trafficked to Cambodia have been repatriated.
“importante yun standards na gusto natin pairalin ay tugma sa standards ng Cambodia, mukha naman kasi nga we’ve been very good allies in the fight against human trafficking at kami naman sa side namin importante yung integration and rehabilitation “ he added.
Gatchalian further explained that regional cooperation allows for better coordination between law enforcement agencies and victim care programs across countries.
“kasi dito umiikot ang mga sindikato at dito rin umiikot yung mga biktima kaya’t importante both the law enforcement and the integration or the taking care of the victims ay tugmang-tugma among all the countries among the region” he said.
The idea exchange was initiated at Cambodia’s request.
During their visit, the Cambodian delegates also toured the Walang Gutom Kitchen, an anti-hunger program run by the DSWD.
The facility is located in Pasay City, in a building that used to be a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) hub.
The delegation also learned about the DSWD’s Pag-Abot Operations program, which aims to rescue street children and homeless families and provide them with shelter and safety.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, Cambodia has shown interest in replicating these programs in their own country.
Tinututukan nito ang mga usaping pampulitika, panlipunan, at pang-ekonomiya na may direktang epekto sa mamamayan.
Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay-diin sa mga tinig ng masa at sa mga isyung hindi kalimitang nabibigyan ng espasyo sa mainstream media, nagsisilbing plataporma ang TBST para sa mas malawak na kamulatan at pagkilos.
- Trike drayber, timbog sa Php 4M shabu sa Dasmariñas City - June 4, 2025
- Bangsamoro Police, wala pang suspek sa pumatay sa tatlong Batangueños - June 4, 2025
- Araw ng Pagluluksa, idineklara sa Calatagan, Batangas para sa tatlong pinatay sa Maguindanao Del Sur; Isa sa mga biktima, ililibing ngayong Huwebes - June 4, 2025
