BARMM commits to fight against OFW human trafficking

Cotabato City —To protect the rights of the Bangsamoro Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the Bangsamoro Government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center on Tuesday, January 21, at the Bangsamoro Government Center, in Cotabato City.

The said MOA, which aimed to create the Bangsamoro Task Force against human trafficking of OFWs from the region, was signed by BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua and Blas F. Ople Policy Center President Susan V. Ople.

The signing was attended by Bangsamoro Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Assistant Executive Secretary Abdullah Cusain, Attorney General Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, and other officials from BARMM’s different ministries and offices.

In Macacua’s message, he stressed that “in an ideal world, all our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters working abroad will go back to their roots and would no longer have to leave apart from their families – so, they won’t have to be exposed to the dangers of human trafficking.”

“We owe a lot to the Bangsamoro OFWs who actively campaigned for the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and publicly supported and encouraged their family to vote ‘yes’ to the ratification of the said law exactly a year ago today [January 21, 2020],” he added.


The Bangsamoro Task Force Against Human Trafficking of OFWs

“The said agreement is a commitment of BARMM to guarantee the fundamental rights of the Bangsamoro against human trafficking and other forms of abuse and human rights violations,” Macacua said.

“It is unfortunate that our OFWs are vulnerable to human trafficking, but it is more unfortunate that despite the rising statistics of human trafficking involving OFWs, more and more Filipinos are enticed by the promise of a greener pasture abroad,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Dumama-Alba said that the creation of the Bangsamoro Task Force Against Human Trafficking of OFWs hopes to “establish mechanisms of detecting and identifying early signs of human trafficking by setting up credible and reliable data management and case monitoring system on OFWs and human trafficking incidence.”

She said it will also identify, determine, and discuss the root causes of illegal migration to determine its approach on how to effectively combat trafficking networks, as well as receive, document, track report, and gather evidences on human trafficking involving Bangsamoro OFWs case build-up.

The Blas F. Ople Policy Center is working closely with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) in the strengthening of a specialized Task Force for monitoring and providing support for the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases against OFWs.

The Office of the Chief Minister is set to identify and designate a focal office to spearhead the creation, establishment, and operation of the said Task Force.

“The MOA is just good for a year, so talagang kailangan natin i-operationalized [ang creation ng Bangsamoro Task Force],” Dumama-Alba said.

The creation of the Bangsamoro Task Force is spearheaded by the Office of the Chief Minister. Other ministries and offices of BARMM will also be represented in the said Task Force. (Bureau of Public Information}

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Iqbal declares 1st Palarong BARMMAA a success

Cotabato City  - Minister Mohager Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Government's Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) declared the region's 1st athletic event a success and said it was an addition to the Bangsamoro's list of milestones and achievements.

On Tuesday, January 21, Iqbal led the closing ceremony of the 1st annual Palarong Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletics Association (BARMMAA) at the Nuro Central Elementary School in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao.

Maguindanao II division emerged as overall champion in both elementary and secondary levels, with a total haul of 31 and 45 gold medals, respectively.

Maguindanao I placed second overall winner at the elementary level, with 27 gold medals, followed by Sulu with 18 and Tawi-Tawi with 9 to round up the top four players. While at the secondary level, Maguindanao I also bagged second place with 42 gold medals, Lamitan City with 36 and Sulu with 30.

"We are proud of your achievements. Keep soaring high," Iqbal said as he congratulated the victorious student-athletes.

“It will be the Bangsamoro as a whole that will benefit from the commendable performance and sportsmanship illustrated by our athletes,” he said.

As for those who didn't win, Iqbal said, "Please do not be discouraged. I want to emphasize that failure is the mother of success. Grab the opportunity to compete, exert more effort, and I am confident you will be the next winners."

4,749 student-athletes, from nine schools division of the Bangsamoro region, participated in the week-long athletic event which run from January 16-21.

Francis J. Rabaca, 16, from Basilan division, won a gold medal in archery. He said he worked hard for it as he wants to fulfill his father’s dream for him – to compete in the 2020 Palarong Pambansa.

“My goal is to be a gold medalist in the 2020 Palarong Pambansa. I will do my best to bring pride to my homeland, Basilan,” Rabaca.

Meanwhile, Rocel Aira L. Agustin, 15, a volleyball gold medalist from Maguindanao II, said she was thankful to the Bangsamoro Government’s full support.

“Maraming nagbago dahil dati ay wala pa gaano kaming mga sponsors. Ngayon ay sobrang dami na pong tumutulong sa amin,” she said.

Iqbal said the education ministry will "intensify efforts to improve academic education and sports development in all educational institutions is the Bangsamoro region."

"Sports and physical education are essential components of the balanced, inclusive, and relevant educational system we envisioned for our children," he said.

Iqbal also congratulated the region's different school division superintendents, supervisors, and other school administrators for their contributions to the success of the BARMM's first athletic event. (Bureau of Public Information)