PH agencies ink pact vs. women, kids exploitation in tourism

Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said it will continue to work with IACAT in addressing the issue, saying the DOT will train industry front liners and involve tourism establishments in the advocacy. (File Photo: Department of Tourism – Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA— Several government agencies on Tuesday committed to coordinate and work on policies to address the exploitation of women and children in the Philippines’ tourism industry.

The Tourism Integrates, Support and Minds Women’s Respect and Child Safety (TourISM WoRCS) was initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to ensure that the country’s tourism industry is conducive to both women and children.

Signing the covenant were representatives from the Philippine Commission on Women, the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Inter-agency Committee for Anti-Trafficking (IACAT).

Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said it will continue to work with IACAT in addressing the issue, saying the DOT will train industry front liners and involve tourism establishments in the advocacy.

Those establishments which host shady activities involving women and children exploitation will also be held liable, she warned.

“Definitely, they will be stripped off of their accreditation. Once their accreditation is removed, they can’t do business because under the law, if you don’t have a DOT accreditation, you won’t have a business permit,” she said in a media interview.

The TourISM WoRCS, an evolved version of the 2006 Child Wise Tourism Program and the 2014 Child Safe Tourism Program, incorporates gender and development concerns and interventions.

Through the initiative, a “child safe and women in tourism” focal persons will be assigned in every region and an inter-agency working group for child-safe tourism Philippines will also be formed.

“We certainly do not need tourists in the Philippines who would prey on the young and women,” Romulo-Puyat said.

“I look forward to the day when we would not have to report about children or women who suffer at the hands of sex predators, a time when child-sex tourism and women trafficking will just be painful lessons in history,” she added.

Meanwhile, for tip-offs of activities seemingly exploiting women and children, Romulo-Puyat urged the public to immediately reach out to the IACAT or the PNP.