Baby Boomers would remember ATOM in Philippine history as the August Twenty-One Movement, but this piece is not about that, though it is also about something equally compelling.
I was asked to represent the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) by the indefatigable OFW advocate Marissa Del Mar in the Anti-Trafficking of OFWs Movement or ATOM which she serves as President. Marissa and I are also co-chairs of the MAP Women Empowerment Committee. Yes, I am a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of women empowerment.
The MAP, headed by the passionate and no-nonsense Marife Zamora, has thrown its full support to this endeavor as a partner organization, “recognizing the danger and injuries that the crime of Trafficking in Persons brings to the people”.
Recently, ATOM had its Press Launch at the Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City where Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) were signed with partner government agencies and Letters of Commitment entered with private and NGO partner organizations.
ATOM is spearheaded by Buhay OFW Foundation, which Del Mar also heads, in partnership with the National Real Estate Association (NREA), Sterling Group, MAP, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. (PCCAI), the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII), ZONTA Club – Makati Business District, Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society, SEAGULL Philippines, Inc., San Miguel Corporation and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.
Present at the Press Launch and MOA Signing were: Seagull Philippines, Inc., Chairman and Publisher Bing Carrion; Zonta Club of Makati Central Business District Charter President Angelita Lee; National Real Estate Association EVP Zeny Fruto; PCCI Youth Development Committee Chairman Anton Sayo; VACC Founder and Chairman Dante Jimenez; Filipino-Indian Commerce and Welfare Society President Manjinder Kumar; and DTI Asec. Ernesto V. Perez.
In her presentation, Marissa mentioned that human trafficking is not only one of the most grotesque violations of human rights, but is also a lucrative crime for perpetrators. Next only to trafficking of drugs and guns, trafficking in persons is now on the world’s third most profitable organized crime with annual profits as high as $150 billion in a global scale.
The conditions that our OFWs are in, before and after they leave the Philippines for work abroad, are very conducive to this global crime such that a lot of our kababayans fall prey to this nefarious act.
This is an advocacy that is close to my heart. I’m glad the private sector has taken on this daunting task to work with government to address this pernicious problem.
Of course, vigilance over human trafficking won’t be effective without the involvement of media. I cannot overstress the importance of the role media plays, from education to monitoring of cases to advocacy work. It is good that in this fight we can count on our partnership with our Kapatid TV5 and Aksyon TV, represented at the launch by Cristina Tan, Head of Business Development, News and Information.
Other media partners include the Aliw Media Group, The Philippine Star, CNN Philippines, Chinoy TV, Ms. Ethel Ramos, Light Network Channel, ANC, Manila Times, Aldenver, Malaya Business Insight, Business Mirror, Pilipino Mirror, PTV4, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Graphic, Pinoy Extreme, V81 Radio, 8 Trimedia, Sonshine Radio, Women’s Journal, AFP Radio, Philippine Daily Inquirer, World News, Travel Plus and Zen Health, Mindanao Daily News, Today Online, Pilipinas Online, wheninmanila.com, Bloggers Philippines, The Ugly Writers, and, of course, The Manila Standard.
Through the years there is this dedicated band of volunteers who have kept vigilant over human trafficking and other kinds of heinous crimes. Hats off to Dante Jimenez and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) for soldiering on to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act do not go scot-free.
The current administration under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has made fighting this crime a priority along with that other form of trafficking: drugs. It is a promise he has made to our OFWs who are also close to his heart. He continues to make this promise to our kababayans in his trips abroad, always making it a point to meet and reach out to Filipino communities in their respective countries.
Also, with our dedicated Foreign Affairs Secretary, Alan Peter Cayetano, at the helm of the DFA, the menace that is human trafficking would be given the serious treatment it deserves.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is a huge dose of assurance to see Marissa take the cudgels for this advocacy. I’ve worked with her as my producer in the multi-awarded public affairs program “ IYO ANG KATRUNGAN “. Together with then-Justice Undersecretary Juvy Salazar, we provided legal service pro bono to indigents. I’m certain the same amount of determination will drive her in this noble quest.
Let’s all do our share in fighting this battle for the sake of our countrywomen and countrymen, our unsung heroes working and living abroad.