CLB to tie up with hotels, resorts, remittance firms

THE Children’s Legal Bureau Inc. (CLB) plans to partner with hotels and money remittance agencies in Cebu to stop child exploitation in the province.

“Hotels or inns and resorts should be involved in helping eradicate these kinds of problems because they usually happen in these areas,” said lawyer Stephanie Tan of the CLB during a forum in Cebu City.

“Establishments can report any violations if they find enough evidence that (would prove that) an incident did occur,” Tan said.

She said that the CLB would partner with 30 hotels, inns, and resorts in Cebu, and also money remittance agencies to help keep an eye on suspicious activities that might lead to child exploitation.

Tan said exploitation such as pornography and molestation are still believed to be a large problem in the province affecting children.

She said that sex tourism is one of the biggest issues that the province is facing especially if those who are involved are minors.

She encouraged private businesses to be involved in helping stop child pornography and exploitation of children.

She also encouraged money remittance agencies and micro finance institutions to take part in helping them to stop these exploitations or illegal activities by reporting suspicious activities that they see.

“Perpetrators often send money to those who are exploited. So it would be great for managers to do background checks if they see someone doing suspicious activities such as sending money to someone unrelated. Employees should take note on the frequency of the action”, Tan said.

She also said that businesses could be liable if they would not report any incidents involving child trafficking.