Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) has served 813 victim-survivors for the first semester of 2025, an agency official said on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the RRPTP provides a range of interventions aimed at addressing the needs of the beneficiaries. The program offers livelihood, financial, medical, and transportation assistance, as well as educational support and psychosocial interventions to help individuals cope with their traumatic experiences, explained Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD's Protective Programs in a news release.
This initiative aligns with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bolster social protection programs and services, aiming to reduce vulnerabilities of Filipinos and foster an inclusive society where no one is left behind in development.
Colico highlighted that 612 or 75.27 percent of the assisted individuals were female, underscoring that women remain particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. The most prevalent form of human trafficking was forced labor, with 251 reported cases, followed by illegal recruitment with 191 cases, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) with 83 cases.
The DSWD reported that the majority of victim-survivors were within the age group of 30 to below 59 years old, accounting for 36 percent or 297 cases. This was followed by those aged 30 to below 17 years old with 286 cases, and those aged 12 to below 17 years old with 148 cases.
In addition to these services, the DSWD assists in rescue operations and provides temporary shelter and legal assistance. The families of victim-survivors also receive appropriate interventions.
"Every victim of human trafficking is in most need of social protection. Every victim-survivor of human trafficking, in whatever form, experiences trauma, and the effects are varied and very personal," Colico stated.
She emphasized the importance of addressing the 'invisible wounds' through the provision of psychosocial support, such as counseling sessions, as part of the RRPTP interventions.
Colico urged the public to assist in combating human trafficking by reporting cases to the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Helpline 1343 Action Line, emphasizing that human trafficking is a grave crime that requires collective action to prevent and address.
