01 July 2016 — The Philippines was upgraded to Tier 1 of the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report of 2016 released on June 30.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., who led the advocacy work for the Philippines’ anti-trafficking in persons campaign in the US and who officially stepped down today as the country’s top envoy to the United States, welcomed the news.

“I welcome the Report’s recognition of the Philippines’ efforts to combat trafficking particularly in the areas of increased convictions; expanded anti-trafficking prevention campaigns for migrant workers; and increased prosecution to avoid child sex tourism, thus resulting in a Tier 1 ranking,” Ambassador Cuisia stated.

The Report, released annually by the State Department since 2001, is mandated by the US Congress under Public Law 106-386, titled “Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) of the year 2000.” The TVPA identifies minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking applicable to the government of a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims of severe forms of trafficking.

There are four tier placements signifying level of compliance with TVPA standards, namely, Tier 1 (full compliance), Tier 2 (no full compliance but making significant efforts to comply with standards), Tier 2 Watchlist (no full compliance and absolute number of victims increasing), and Tier 3 (no full compliance, no significant efforts to comply).

Since the issuance of the TIP Report last year, the Philippine Government has regularly met the leadership of State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Bureau to highlight initiatives in addressing issues to combat human trafficking such as expanded training and awareness events for government officials, prospective employees, and the general public, and increased convictions of those complicit in trafficking.

“The Embassy will continue its engagement with the US State Department to ensure that the Philippines’ efforts to combat this scourge are accurately reported and considered by the State Department. Our country’s goal is to remain in Tier 1 to ensure that the estimated 10 million Filipino workers overseas are protected from unscrupulous practices,” Ambassador Cuisia said. END