PHL Consulate General in New York and Damayan Migrant Workers Association Forge Partnership on Trafficking Matters

Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Catapang (seated leftmost), Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega (seated, second to the left), Damayan’s Linda Oalican (seated, center), with Damayan members and trafficking survivors after the signing of the Agreement (photo by NYPCG)

04 October 2017 NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Damayan Migrant Workers Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding on closer cooperation on addressing human and labor trafficking matters at the Philippine Center in New York on October 03.

The partnership, which is the product of several years of discussion, provides for closer coordination between the Consulate and the migrant workers’ advocacy group in order to address in a timely and effective manner cases of human and labor trafficking affecting overseas Filipinos. As a result of the agreement, an Anti-Trafficking Working Group (ATWG) will be convened to discuss work plans, timelines and other deliverables.

Among the activities on which the Consulate and Damayan are expected to coordinate include more intensive information dissemination about trafficking, outreach activities, assistance to victims, and exchange of information and best practices, among others.

The Consulate General was represented by Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Arturo Romua while Damayan was represented by Ms. Linda Oalican and members of the Damayan Board, trafficking survivors, volunteers, and advisers. Assistant Secretary Reynaldo A. Catapang of the Department of Foreign Affairs Migrant Workers Affairs Office was on hand to witness the signing.

Consul General Dizon-De Vega hailed the partnership as a major step in the right direction to raise more awareness of trafficking issues and to extend much needed assistance to victims. She emphasized that trafficking can take place at any time and in any country. Ms. Oalican welcomed the signing of the MOU and looked forward to working full force in addressing the issue of trafficking. She further commented that the community should not let their guard down as many victims of trafficking are under the radar due to the complex nature of this problem.

The Consulate and Damayan are scheduled to organize a Know Your Rights Session on Trafficking and Immigration related matters on November 04 at the Philippine Center in tandem with the Consulate’s Consular Saturday services. The session is open to the public. Details will be announced at a later date. END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/

From left: Assistant Secretary Catapang watches as Consul General Dizon-De Vega and Ms. Linda Oalican sign the agreement