(MANILA BULLETIN)
The House Committees on Accounts and on Welfare of Children have taken a stand to spread awareness on the menace that is child trafficking and spur the public to fight it through the special screening of a film dubbed "Sound of Freedom".
The film, which was released on theaters Monday, Sept. 18 was based on the real story of Tim Ballard, a former United States (US) Department for Homeland Security agent who conducted sting operations to rescue two young siblings--a boy and a girl--from human traffickers in Colombia.
“Child trafficking is a global crisis that knows no borders, affecting millions of innocent lives each year. It is a brutal manifestation of greed, exploitation, and disregard for the most vulnerable among us,” said Tingog Party List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Committee on Accounts Chairperson.
Supporting Rep. Romualdez in the joint project is her fellow Tingog Party-list nominee, Rep. Jude Acidre.
“We firmly believe that it is our collective duty to protect our children and ensure that they grow up in an environment where their rights are upheld and their dreams are nurtured,” Rep. Romualdez added.
Representing the Committee on the Welfare of Children in the joint project was BWH Party List Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, incumbent chairperson of the panel. Rep. Romualdez chaired the same committee during the previous 18th Congress.
As part of the initiative, Tingog extended cash donations to four non-government organizations providing shelter and related social services to children, youth, and women who were victims of trafficking, other forms of abuse, and neglect.
Recipients of the donation include the First Love International Ministries, Inc., Voice of the Free Foundation, Inc.-Center of Hope, St. Mary Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation, Inc., and the Sanghaya Foundation, Inc.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, leader of the 311-member House of Representatives, and several other lawmakers graced the screening of the movie at SM Megamall Cinema 11 in Mandaluyong City to show their support for the project.
He commended the two House panels for their joint project as he also urged the public to support the campaign against child trafficking.
“As a society, we must unite to break the chains of child trafficking and ensure a brighter future for our children. Together, we can build a world where every child can thrive, safe from the clutches of traffickers,” said the Speaker, who is the husband of Rep. Romualdez.
“Our collective action today will determine the course of countless young lives tomorrow,” he added.
He said the special screening of the movie highlights the necessity to further strengthen laws against the trafficking of persons, particularly of women and children.
Released on July 4, 2023 by Angel Studios, “Sound of Freedom” is considered one of the most successful independent films in history, grossing over $210 million at the worldwide box office against its $14.5 million budget.
Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/19/house-panels-take-stand-vs-child-trafficking)
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