A TOTAL of 38 artist volunteers are set to paint the outer fence of the Southern Philippines Medical Center Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM) along J.P. Laurel Ave starting December 3, in support of the observation of the Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The volunteer artists include Tabula Rasa Group, Fine Arts Department of the Philippine Womens’ College, Global Impact, and other Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat)-Davao Region partners.
Rodney Yap from the Philippine Women’s College said he volunteered to paint to contribute to a positive message to the community.
“I can contribute as a positive aspect of the community through visual arts and symbolism. Sa visual art, makita sa katawhan ang positibo na aspeto sa life, in a way pud na aware pud ta sa panghitabo karon especially about sa human trafficking na rampant karon sa atong society (In visual art, people can see positive aspect of life, in a way that they will also be aware of the issues of society especially trafficking which is the rampant issue in the society,” he said.
This mural painting is part of the highlight of the celebration of the Human Trafficking Awareness Month with the theme “Violence free community starts with me.”
In Friday's program, Director of SPMC Dr. Leopoldo Vega, Regional Prosecutor and Chair of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (Iacat Davao Region Network) lawyer Janet Grace Fabrero, and Head of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Community-Based Services Pedrita Dimakiling signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will allow the mural painting to stay in the area for three years.
The first brush event was led by the signatories of the MOA and Iacat Davao Region members.
Regional Prosecutor Janet Grace Fabrero said they expect the mural painting will be effective and will encourage more people to get involved in the campaign.
“(We hope) that they will enjoy it, and they will also get the messages that it will depict,” she said.
Fabrero said the paintings is set to depict a message of a positive community, free from trafficking and abuse.
She said this is the first time they will stage a mural painting as a form to combat trafficking while underscoring the visual value of the art form.
Fabrero said the activity will also highlight the organization's advocacy and what they want to achieve.
The Philippines is already upgraded to Tier 1 in the Global Trafficking in Persons Report which means it has fully complied with the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking.
Fabrero said being on the top tier means a bigger challenge on their part.
“We have to maintain it but it is not easy. Meron pang significant indicators such as cases of prostitution at iba pa. There are a lot of factors to consider kaya nga probably the mural painting will help us maintain our status,” she said.
The other partners of the initiative are the Davao City government, Habitat for Humanity, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, Global Impact Philippines, Davies Paints Philippines, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Health, and all other members of Iacat Davao region.