QUEZON CITY, July 4 -- The Department of Foreign Affairs lauds the recognition of Philippine efforts towards the elimination of human trafficking, as the country maintained its Tier 1 status in the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US Department of State on 2 July 2021.

"Maintaining our Tier 1 status validates the whole-of-government efforts of the DFA and other IACAT member agencies as well as affirms the procedures in place in support of interagency coordination towards the provision of appropriate and timely services to our kababayan who are victims of trafficking," stated Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola.

The report states that the Philippine government "fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking" and that it demonstrates "serious and sustained efforts" during the reporting period. The report also noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the government's anti-trafficking capacity but that it still managed to sustain its efforts and remain on Tier 1. 

It recognized the prosecution of more traffickers than the previous reporting period, the increase in the number of prosecutors assigned to anti-trafficking task forces and the number of staff to its anti-trafficking coordination body, the opening of a specialized shelter and one-stop service center in Manila and providing assistance to more than 1,000 victims. 

Moreover, the report also captured the DFA's allocation of 1 billion pesos ($20.76 million) for its Assistance to Nationals Fund (ATN), used to cover airfare, meal allowance, shelter, medical care, and other needs of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It also noted the DFA's Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) with an annual allocation of 200 million pesos ($4.15 million). 

The State Department also took note of the DFA providing assistance to some 2,575 potential victims of human trafficking in 2020, "a significant decrease" compared to previous cases totaling 3,581 victims of trafficking and 4,479 victims of illegal recruitment. The DFA was also reported assisting in the repatriation of 327,511 Filipino workers who had lost their jobs or had not been paid wages as a result of the pandemic.

"Proof of our commitment to combat TIP is our action in Syria. Maintaining our Tier 1 status in this report somehow tells us that we are on the right track and we are in the right," added Undersecretary Arriola.

In February 2021, 34 trafficking victims staying at the Philippine Embassy shelter were repatriated from Syria. As of June 2021, the shelter in Syria has been emptied and all wards repatriated.

The DFA is redoubling its repatriation efforts amidst the ongoing pandemic. Following the instruction by President Duterte and as urged by Secretary Locsin, the DFA is also providing P10,000 reintegration assistance to repatriated distressed overseas Filipinos." (DFA)

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