SEALED. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao executive secretary Abdulraof Macacua (left) and Susan Ople (right) sign a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday (Jan. 21) in Cotabato City for the creation of the Bangsamoro Task Force Against the Trafficking of Overseas Filipino Workers in the region. The creation of the task force aims to address the plight of migrant workers from the region who are victims of human trafficking. (Photo courtesy of Noel Punzalan – PNA Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY -- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, Inc. (Ople Center) inked Tuesday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the creation of the Bangsamoro Task Force Against the Trafficking of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the region.
The MOA signing between BARMM and the Ople Center aims to address the plight of migrant workers from the region who are victims of human trafficking.
“We are very much looking forward to this partnership of ours for the welfare of our migrant workers,” BARMM executive secretary Abdulraof Macacua said during the MOA signing ceremony.
Macacua also encouraged jobseekers to coordinate with the region’s Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration and the Ministry of Labor and Employment – BARMM as not to fall prey to human traffickers.
“For one, we also have the Bangsamoro Job Portal for you to use as a reference,” Macacua added.
Susan Ople said their data showed that one of the latest victims of human trafficking is a 15-year-old girl from Cotabato City.
“The young ones are the targets of this (human trafficking) scheme because they could easily be swayed,” Ople said, adding that they are also looking forward to a shared effort with BARMM to combat human trafficking practice.
She added that the Ople center commits to help BARMM against human trafficking and give justice to its victims.
"We will coordinate with our embassies abroad, and that the filing of cases would take place to give justice to the victims,” Ople said.
The Ople Center, a non-profit organization, is actively involved in advocacies for migrant workers’ rights and welfare.
The center is named after Ms. Ople’s father, the late Senate President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Fajardo Ople, who has gained national acclaim as the Father of Overseas Employment and the Father of the Philippine Labor Code. (PNA)
