THE regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao is eyeing to build an exclusive shelter for male trafficked victims, a social worker said.
According to DSWD-Davao Regional Secretary of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Alma Acera, to date, there is no existing shelter for trafficked male victims in the region, thus, the agency proposed last year to put up a shelter exclusively for male in the height of the rising number trafficked victims.
“Actually wala tayong shelter for male na trafficked victims. We have 25 percent of trafficked victims which are male,” Alcera said.
The DSWD-Davao have already received report on two cases of child trafficking this year wherein three of the six children are boys.
Since there is only a shelter for female victims, the male victim usually go back to their homes.
Alcera said there is already a center for children in conflict with law but there is no such for victims of trafficking.
She added they instead refer the victims to quick response team for children's concern of the city.
The proposal was already approved by the DSWD Central Office and the budget has been set but no location has been identified yet.
The DSWD-Davao is currently coordinating with different local government units (LGUs)in the region as the center will be managed by the LGU where the center will be built.
“We are now hastening the process to realize it by next year,” Alcero said.
She said the need for the shelter is urgent because every day there is a possibility that more children will be victims of trafficking.
With the new center, it will help the victims of trafficking restore their lives and help them move forward. (JCR)