Cyber-Pedophiles

By: Joe Mauricio

 

Did you know that 99% of young people, ages 12-17, have used the Internet, and 87% do so regularly? I was watching the TFC (The Filipino Channel) ANC Report saying that so many children in the Philippines are being used by some adults from foreign countries and being exploited for cyber pornography. The helpless children, the children of poverty, are sometimes brought by parents to cyber pedophiles places or homes or offices, for reasons of money. The Philippines’ poor are vulnerable for a chance to make some quick money and the next thing they know, they are caught up in prostitution. The sexual abuse of a child is an appaling reality. But through education and awareness, we in the media, know that this unthinkable crime can be prevented. In order to meet teens, cyber-predators use all sorts of techniques to entice them away from their homes, schools or other safe places. They make all sorts of promises to get teens to meet them, or use gifts or money as a bait. Here are some situations to avoid and protect yourself from these sick sexual predators…

1. Protect your personal information (name, phone number, address, age, gender, password, etc.)
2. Be careful about information revealed in social media and blogs.
3. Don’t post your photo online.
4. Limit your contacts list to friends that you know personally.
5. Be wary in discussion with strangers.
6. Don’t accept gifts or money from strangers.
7. Don’t meet with someone in person whom you only know online.
To find out more about warning signs of child sexual abuse, and how to prevent it, log onto www.stopitnow.com.

TRUCKS BAN IN MANILA

Destruction imposed on trucks entering the city of Manila is a major trade obstacle, and the national government (Malacanang) should ask the city to reconsider the ban order. We are talking here of more than transportation problem. It also affects outgoing exports and the incoming goods from other countries. If trucks commerce in Metro Manila will cease, the manufacturing sectors that need raw materials to produce finished goods and the shipments of finished goods for the country’s consumption will be affected. And so are the retailers and consumers will be impacted. The owners and drivers of trucks and manufacturing companies will suffer, affecting many families’ livelihood, including the maintenance and truck mechanics. In doing this, the city of Manila is trading progress for the whole country with traffic delays. Goods, on emergency service coming from the airports, cannot enter Manila due to the ban. This could jeopardize thousands, if not millions, of human lives. Manila should not act prematurely and should have conducted a meaningful feasibility studies to solve the transportation problems. Supplies of foods from the provinces will be hindered. School buses cannot enter Manila, thereby creating chaos on school children and schools, and schools’ bus drivers. Construction also ceases since heavy equipments are needed to build and can’t enter the city. Manila might have good traffic flow but, on the other hand, it will stop the flow of goods and trade–the full commerce. The foreign investors might look at this ban as a sign of declining economic progress. So Mayor Estrade and Manila City Council, please correct and/or lift the truck ban before it’s too late.