The region registers ninety nine (99) cases of  human trafficking  filed before the Department of Justice Region 2  as revealed in the recent orientation on Anti-Trafficking Law participated in by students from government and private colleges and universities.

“Human Trafficking is a form of exploitation in modern times and it happens even in our own neighbourhood. Thus, there is a need for an awareness campaign such as this orientation in order to curb  this problem,” said Lucy Alan, head of the Protective Services Unit of DSWD FO 2 and co-chair of the Regional Inter-Agency Council on Anti-trafficking (RIACAT).

A series of lectures was conducted by Prosecutors Abigail Balisi-Lappay and Carolyn A. Deray of the Department of Justice Region 2 and Florentina Saul, DSWD FO 02 Social Welfare Officer, afterwhich the students were introduced to the art of film making by  Benjie de Yro of Philippine Information Agency Region 2.

“The short films to be produced by the students will depict inspired true to life stories of victims of human trafficking and the same will become advocacy materials of DSWD,” Alan added.

The participating students were from Cagayan State University-Sanchez Mira, Aparri and Gonzaga; University of Cagayan Valley, International School of Asia and the Pacific, Isabela State University-Echague and Santiago City campus; St. Ferdinand College of Isabela, Quirino State University and Philippine Normal University.

The winning entries will be announced on December 12, 2014 on the occasion of International Day Against Human Trafficking. ### GELA FLOR R. PEREZ, Regional Information Officer II