2024 started well for the work of the Preda Foundation, which is celebrating 50 years of rescuing, protecting, healing and empowering children after they were sexually abused by traffickers, sex tourists and even relatives.

The Preda Foundation was established in Olongapo City in 1974 to help teenage boys arrested and jailed for suspected illegal possession and abuse of drugs. During those Martial Law days, there were extrajudicial killings of drug users and dealers. Many teenagers were killed. To stop these killings, an international initiative, the Colombo Plan, promoted a new law in the Philippines that allowed the arrested and accused youth to be released to a rehabilitation center for recovery and healing. Once rehabilitated, these youth could have the charges against them dismissed and resume living normal lives.