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Microsoft Philippines, in partnership with a nongovernment
organization (NGO), Visayan Forum Foundation Inc., expands its
battle against human trafficking and exploitation in the country
through its step-Up initiative—Stop Trafficking and Exploitation
of People Through Unlimited Potential.
The number of cases of human trafficking has
been undoubtedly increasing and the Philippines is among those
countries in Asia and Pacific reportedly a major source and
destination of trafficked persons.
And to address the issue, step-UP aims to
prevent and reduce the vulnerability of human trafficking in the
country, said Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, president and executive
director of Visayan Forum.
The project, which was introduced in May 2006,
provides Information Technology (IT) skills training not only to
trafficking survivors but also to those vulnerable victims and
underprivileged youth. Besides the IT training, it also gives life
skills training and social entrepreneurship.
In a press briefing held Friday, Rafael Rollan,
managing director for Microsoft Philippines, announced that the
computer giant would be giving additional software and cash grants
worth more than P12 million to Visayan Forum.
The grant, Rollan said, would be able the
Visayan Forum to engage more NGOs and open 10 centers in different
areas of the country.
Moreover, Microsoft and the Visayan Forum seek
to continue its initiative to give IT trainings among the victims of
trafficking; to prevent the incidents of trafficking in hot spot
areas, especially in the south areas; and to build the capacities of
the existing NGO partners running the Community Technology Learning
Centers (CTLCs) to enhance its operations against human trafficking.
Step-UP, Rollan said, has 15 CTLCs located in
strategic cities, such as Manila, Batangas, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao,
among others. So far it has trained at least more than 10,000 young
people, 33 percent of which or 3,318 of its graduates have been
given the opportunities to have better employment.
-- Cris An G. Odronia
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