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MANILA : The Philippines is one of the world's hot spots for human organ trafficking and is among the top five countries involved in the illegal sale of kidneys.
Despite a government ban on this lucrative industry, many poor Filipinos are still offering their kidneys for sale just to be able to get a better life.
Edwin Rivas, a tricycle driver who sold his kidney, said: "We are poor and we need money to buy a house and live. I agreed to sell my kidney because the money will be able to help my family."
Fellow tricycle driver, Alan Falcon, who also sold his kidney, said: "We were really in a tight-fix, that's why I sold my kidney. I didn't have a job and we really had nothing. We didn't even have a house to live in."
The thriving black market of kidney trading in the Philippines pushed the Department of Health to sign an administrative order last April, prohibiting the payment of money to donors.
Last May, the Health Department also issued a ban on foreigners receiving kidneys for transplant in the Philippines. But the ban did not stop brokers from offering 20-year-old George Besas US$3,800 for his kidney.
"I was nervous, but I went ahead just to help my family. I was able to get money to buy a tricycle and a small store from the payment I received," said Besas.
Besas said he knows of five other tricycle drivers who were also approached. Some of his colleagues have also tried selling their kidneys to hospitals under the guise of a donation.
Though it is illegal to sell a kidney in the Philippines, it is not illegal to donate one. It is also not against the law to receive a gift from a grateful recipient.
In fact, local non-governmental organisations give out gratuity packages to donors, including cash, livelihood assistance and free annual medical check-ups.
The Health Department is now rationalising a new donor protection programme that would not involve compensation by cash.
Though there have been several cases filed in court against kidney traffickers, no one has been convicted, unlike in Singapore. The island-state recently convicted and jailed two Indonesians - one for selling his kidney and the other for attempting to sell his kidney.
"This is an eye opener in that sense... There are laws in the Philippines, but the problem is... implementation," said Dr Reynaldo Lesaca, Jr, Chief of Human Organ Preservation Effort, National Kidney and Transplant Institute.
The new regulatory board on organ donation and transplantation is now reviewing its rules that will strictly monitor kidney donations in the country. - CNA /ls
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