Oriental Negros has been identified as one of five trafficking hotspots in the country, along with Zamboanga, Samar, Leyte and Davao.

Statistical reports released by the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. disclosed that Oriental Negros, with Dumaguete City as the transit point, contributes 12 percent of the national total of trafficking cases, with 441 since 2001.

It added that from April to August 2005, 45 persons were victims of child trafficking 22 percent of them minors. Most of the victims are females from the towns of Sta. Catalina and Basay and the cities of Bayawan, Canlaon, and Dumaguete.

Out of the 60 cases so far recorded, only seven convictions were reported.

On the other hand, Dumaguete, Siquijor province and Bais City are also tagged as destination areas for victims.

Visayan Forum president Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda said that due to leaks in the anti-trafficking drive, a program called PORT project was organized in coordination with the Unites States Agency for International Development.

This is due to the presence of the nautical highway with roll-on, roll-off vessels including the Maharlika highway.

The PORT projects in the North Harbor, Sorsogon, Batangas and Davao hopes to strengthen the area of connection and plug existing leaks.

Other groups - multi-sectoral Network Against Trafficking, Visayan Forum-Philippines Against Child Trafficking, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific region, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons and Gwave - have expressed concern on the ratio of convictions of these cases.*JG

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