Dads want more study of law protecting travel of unaccompanied minors in Oro

THE 18th City Council during its 76th regular session yesterday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy, decided further enhance and study the proposed ordinance protecting the travel of unaccompanied minors without proper documentation to and from Cagayan de Oro City.

Introduced by Councilor Edna M. Dahino, chair of the committee on women and family relations, the ordinance shall be known as the “Unaccompanied Minor Travel Protection Ordinance of 2018.” It is in line with the constitutional mandate that recognizes the sanctity of the family, as a basic social institution, this travel ban ordinance has been promulgated to protect the minors from the evil of human trafficking and similar heinous offenses.

The ordinance seeks to monitor the travel of minors in and out of the city to protect them against minor trafficking and ensure that their parent(s), legal guardians or custodians have direct knowledge of their whereabouts; who they are traveling with, and the purpose of their travel.

The ordinance also provides the investigation of parents, legal guardians, or custodians who consent to the travel of their minors for the purpose of exploitation, prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.

During discussions, however, some councilors aired their suggestions to improve the proposed law.

Vice Mayor Uy said he is supporting the ordinance but there is a need to study it further so that it will be a quality legislation. (JAO)