23/07/2026
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ-๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay โ In line with the observance of the National Anti-Trafficking Awareness Month 2026, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol, through its Gender and Development (GAD) Unit, intensified its campaign against human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and online exploitation through a gender-responsive learning session held yesterday, July 22, at the RD Zen Hall, DOLE Bldg., Legazpi City.
The activity titled, โSafe Work, Safe Migration, Safe Spaces: A Gender-Responsive Learning Session on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Illegal Recruitment, and Online Exploitation,โ equipped the personnel with deepened understanding of emerging threats faced by vulnerable sectors, particularly women, children, migrant workers, and jobseekers.
In his opening message, OIC-Regional Director Atty. Nepomuceno A. Leaรฑo II stressed the need for heightened vigilance against trafficking and exploitation, especially as digital platforms continue to create new avenues for abuse and victimization. He emphasized that government workers play a crucial role in promoting awareness and safeguarding communities from these threats.
The first session featured PSMS Christina Vega Moya, investigator of the Women and Children Cybercrime Protection of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit. PSMS Moya discussed trafficking in persons and gender-based vulnerabilities, explaining how women, children, and marginalized groups are disproportionately exposed to exploitation. She tackled the growing concern of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), differentiating these crimes from trafficking in persons while emphasizing their interconnected risks. PSMS Moya also explained how traffickers increasingly use social media platforms, messaging applications, and other digital channels to recruit, manipulate, and exploit victims.
The second session was led by Atty. Dominic M. Cerbito, Attorney IV of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Regional Office V, who discussed illegal recruitment and safe migration practices. Atty. Cerbito outlined common recruitment scams, warning signs of fraudulent job offers, and legal remedies available to victims of illegal recruitment. He likewise emphasized responsible job-seeking and migration practices, urging workers to verify employment opportunities through legitimate government channels and comply with proper procedures for both local and overseas employment.
Capping the activity, the participants actively engaged in the question-and-answer activities and quiz, which enabled them to seek clarifications, share insights, and assess their learnings on the topics discussed.
Photos: M. Marinay
