Villamor Airbase, Pasay City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warns survivors of Typhoon Yolanda who are coming to Metro Manila to be vigilant against illegal recruiters and human traffickers who may take advantage of them.

“Illegal recruiters often prowl on victims of disasters who are in dire financial needs as well as on minors left orphaned and have no immediate family to take care of them,” DSWD-National Capital Region Director Alice Bonoan said.

Director Bonoan is on top of the processing center for internally displaced persons (IDPs) here.

DSWD has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for the conduct of information campaign to educate the arriving IDPs  about their rights and responsibilities, as well as how to detect an illegal recuriter or human trafficker.

DSWD and IACAT set up a booth here to accommodate inquiries and reports on possible trafficking and illegal recruitment activities involving the IDPs.

They will also show audio-visual presentations and distribute  information kits at the grandstand and at the ‘Hatod Kabayan’ headquarters.

Likewise, relief workers and volunteers are reminded to familiarize themselves with the elements of trafficking and to report possible cases to  the DSWD hotline (02) 9319141 or the IACAT Action Lines 1343 and 02-1343  for those outside Metro Manila.

Survivors looking for jobs are advised to coordinate with DOLE-NCR at telephone numbers (02) 4006011/3035921 or at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) at the different local government units in Metro Manila. ###