Anti-Human Trafficking Council Screens Winning Eye-Opener

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In observance of the 2018 World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), will be holding a Cineforum featuring the film, Across the Crescent Moon on July 31, 2018 at the Cinematheque Manila.

The Cineforum is one of the main activities lined up for the week-long celebration of the global event in the Philippines, which mainly aims to raise public awareness on human trafficking. It will be graced by the film’s director and producer Ms. Baby Nebrida,  IACAT member agencies and partners led by the DOJ as IACAT Chair, the CFO (Usec. Astravel Pimentel-Naik) and the FDCP (Chairperson Liza Diño).

In 2013, the United Nations General adopted a resolution designating July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This resolution declared that such a day was necessary to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”

The award-winning masterpiece of Ms. Nebrida (heralded as the Ambassador for Peace by the International Parliamentarians), is a good eye-opener to the problem of human trafficking in the Philippines. The protagonist, portrayed by Matteo Guidicelli, is a Muslim soldier who battles human trafficking and other crimes in the Southern part of Mindanao while keeping his marriage to his Christian wife (Alex Godinez) intact. The film highlights the perils of modern-day slavery and digs deeper into kidnapping, abduction, and illegal recruitment, as three modes of trafficking in the Philippines. It also tackles the uniqueness of inter-faith relationships, echoing the importance of unity despite tremendous religious and cultural differences. The film has garnered numerous international acclaims such as “Best Ensemble Cast and Best Feature Global Film” by the International Film Festival Manhattan and “Best Film” by the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Human trafficking is a crime that exploits men, women, and children for numerous purposes including forced labor and sex. The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labor globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation. From 2016 until the current year, the Philippine government, through the IACAT headed by the DOJ, has consistently ranked Tier 1 in the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. This means that the government fully meets the minimum global standards for the elimination of trafficking. The launch of IACAT’s 1343 Actionline Against Trafficking in 2011 marked the commitment of our government in eliminating threats of human trafficking, slavery, and abuse.

For more information, please contact Janet Ramos (email jramos@cfo.gov.ph; tel. no. 552-744) or Frencel Tingga (emailftingga@cfo.gov.ph; tel. no. 552-4766) of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Any interested school administrators, student leaders, and members of the media (school or professional), may get in touch with the CFO for the screening of the film (July 31, 2018, 1 pm at Cinematheque Manila).

I am MAD Launches ‘MACbooklet’ to Groom Schoolkids as Nation-Builders

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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Ivatan students in Batanes were among the first to receive the MACbooklet copies​.​

In its continuing mission to provide the younger generation with opportunities to realize their dreams and passions, non-profit volunteer group I am Making A Difference, Inc. (I am M.A.D.) has launched a new learning tool called the MAD ACtivity booklet (MACbooklet) that espouse values which can lead them to become nation-builders.

I am M.A.D., a TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Awards Foundation awardee on youth leadership, began distribution of its very own activity booklet titled 10 M.A.D. (Munting Aksyon na Dapat) Gawin ng Batang Pilipino to school children during its recent outreach activities in remote areas around the Philippines.

Based on the 10 I am M.A.D. Commitments that the group has been sharing with youngsters since its inception in 2009, the MACbooklet is an original creation by its co-founders Mark Conrad Ravanzo and Christian Marx Rivero, and written by Wino Dela Cruz, one of its active volunteers. It contains interactive content and illustrations (made solely in Microsoft PowerPoint) and a relatable story—inspired by the real-life characters of Damhar and Chooky, two of I am M.A.D.’s youngest volunteers from Basilan.

The latest learning tool highlights the group’s 10 small fundamental habits and to-do’s that can make a big difference forming part of its key advocacies anchored on the Department of Education’s core values—love of God (maka-Diyos), love for others (makatao), love of environment (makakalikasan), and love of country (makabayan).

Benefitting 250 students and led by close to a hundred volunteers, including 42 new recruits, I am M.A.D., for this year has so far conducted its trademark three-day I am MAD Camp and pioneered the dissemination of its MACbooklet together with packs of school supplies to far-flung school communities such as Itbayat Central School in Itbayat, Batanes; Camp Susana Elementary School in La Paz, Zamboanga City; Laiban Elementary School in Tanay, Rizal; B. Aldana Central Elementary School in Lamitan City, Basilan; and Mayor Santiago Garcia Memorial Elementary School in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

With a good purpose in every journey mindset, the I am M.A.D. operates by fielding an army of “TraVolunteers” (that is: to travel to volunteer) to run its outreach activities where one gets to travel to the country’s scenic spots while primarily allocating its time in their itinerary to perform community work as volunteers.

The volunteers facilitated values formation activities and engaged learner-participants from Grades 5 to 6 with games, team-building sorties, and workshops designed to promote Filipino values and inspire them to see themselves as future leaders.

“As part of our efforts to continuously innovate and give school children more ways to appreciate learning and further inspire them, we developed and launched the MACbooklet out of donations and help from our sponsors and friends,” said Mark Conrad ‘Maco’ Ravanzo, co-founder and chief executive volunteer of I am Making A Difference, who is also the illustrator/designer of the booklet.

But Ravanzo added that with limited resources and working essentially on goodwill of other people, they would need further support to sustain its new initiative. “We are seeking for support from those who share our advocacy to help us print and distribute our MACbooklet to inspire more kids,” he said.

One MACbooklet costs P50 and the group would need 50 booklets per camp. The group calendared 15 camps all over the Philippines this year and still has 10 remaining outreach in General Santos, Bohol, Sulu, Romblon, Antique, Samar, Tawi-Tawi, Bacolod, Nueva Ecija, and Abra. It also plans to share the MACbooklet to other school partners in the country.

For partnerships, interested volunteers and sponsors, email I am M.A.D. at iammadph@gmail.com. Visit iammad.org.phor connect through its Facebook page:facebook.com/IamMakingADifference or follow @iammad_ph on Twitter and Instagram.

DOTr to Dispatch Over 200 Modern Passenger Jeepneys

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with its efforts to provide a safe, comfortable, efficient and environment-friendly public transport, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be conducting the Dispatch of Modern Public Transport Vehicles: Pasada Tungo sa Maunlad na Bansa tomorrow, July 20, 2018, at the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila.

Over 200 modern public utility jeepney (PUJ) units will be readily available for dispatch to operators with franchises validated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The modern jeepney conforms with the existing environmental and product standards set by the Bureau of Standards. It has side doors instead of rear doors, and a higher ceiling that allows for standing passengers, which translates to a higher carrying capacity. Emergency exits are mandated and some units will have provisions for differently-abled passengers, coupled with WiFi, GPS, CCTVs, dash camera, speed limiter and automatic fare collection system.

As compliance to the Clean Air Act of 1999, the modern jeepney will either have a Euro-4 compliant emission system or an electric-powered motor that will generate less pollution or none at all.

Class 1, 2, and 3 jeepneys will be available for dispatch. Class 1 will have 9 to 22 passenger capacity including the driver; Class 2 will carry 22 passengers and will allow for standing passengers to augment the driver’s income; Class 3 will likewise likewise have 22 passengers and above plus driver, but will be all seated.  

DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, who will lead the modern jeepney dispatch with Usec. for Road Tim Orbos and LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, said the modernization of jeepneys is long overdue.

“Napapanahon nang magkaroon ang publiko ng hindi lang ligtas kundi komportable at kaaya-ayang pampublikong transportasyon. Kung kayoý papipiliin, saan niyo ba mas gustong sumakay: sa karag-karag na jeepney na itim na usok ang ibinubuga, o sa mas modernong jeep kung saan makauupo kayo ng komportable at batid ninyong ihahatid kayo sa inyong paroroonan nang ligtas at hindi nakadaragdag sa polusyon?” he said.

The transportation chief likewise mentioned that there are financing schemes available to operators and drivers to help them pay for the cost of the modern jeepneys. Undersecretary Tim Orbos explained the financing rates are affordable with a “5-6-7-80,000” formula, which stands for an easy down payment, very low interest rates, payability in seven years, and PhP80,000 government subsidy.

For his part, Usec. for Road Tim Orbos urged drivers and transport operators to be open to developments and embrace the PUV modernization. 

“Para din naman ito sa ating lahat. Kailangan tayo ay pasulong at hindi paurong upang umunlad. Eventually everyone will get tired of riding the dilapidated jeepneys that are hazards on the road, because we all know we deserve better and there are better options out there. Hindi naman sila pababayaan ng gobyerno,” Usec. Orbos assured. 

The DOTr plans to replace all public utility vehicles (PUV) aged 15 years or older under its PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP). 

The PUVMP was first launched in Tacloban City, Leyte, in January where it initially deployed 45 solar-powered jeepneys. In June, 15 out of 35 modern PUJ units of the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative were rolled out and started to ply the route of StarCity/CCP to PICC, GSIS/Senate to MOA to PITX and back. Just this week, two transport cooperatives launched their PUV Modernization Program-compliant jeepneys to ply new routes along Taguig and Pateros. The Taguig Transport Service Coop PUVs are plying the Bagumbayan (Taguig) to Pasig route via San Joaquin, while the Pateros-Fort Boni Transport Coop PUVs’ route is from Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio to Guadalupe Market (ABC).