Gov't vows to curb human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government vowed today to further strengthen its efforts to combat human trafficking after the country retained its Tier 2 status in the United States' annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview over a state-run radio station, cited measures that the Aquino administration has been implementing to address the problem.

She said the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, headed by the Department of Justice, has assigned additional prosecutors to handle trafficking cases.

From last year's 21 convictions, she said, the number increased to 31 this year as more cases of human trafficking are now being filed in courts.

Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development continued to operate 26 temporary shelters for victims of abuse.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), on the other hand, has been conducting pre-employment seminars for overseas Filipino workers so that they would not become victims of human trafficking, said the official.

TIP Report, which was released on June 20, cited the Philippine gains in curbing human trafficking and the areas that need to improve.

The Philippines remained at Tier 2 on the US State Department's three tier ranking system.

The TIP report noted that the Philippines made significant efforts to combat trafficking. It, however, said the government does not yet fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.