Mandaluyong city: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) victimized by human trafficking, as well as their families, will now have a clearer and faster pathway to report cases and receive government assistance.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) launched the operational guidelines for the referral of trafficking in persons cases in Mandaluyong City. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized that the new system is designed to expedite government action, offering a structured response to the persistent threat of trafficking in persons while safeguarding the rights, dignity, and welfare of OFWs.
'These guidelines strengthen our national referral mechanism by ensuring that all government agencies, service providers, and partner organizations operate within a unified, rights-based, and gender-responsive framework,' Cacdac explained. He also highlighted that the guidelines establish clear and harmonized procedures for referrals, delineating institutional roles and responsibilities across all stages of trafficking cases, ensuring that victims receive timely and appropriate assistance.
Cacdac noted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr's directive to be present and assist OFWs who need help. He emphasized that the guidelines are not just technical documents but represent a firm commitment to coordinated action, survivor-centered protection, and enhanced coordination among frontline government agencies.
DOJ-IACAT Executive Director Hannah Lizette Manalili stated that the mechanism ensures a single, institutionalized pathway for victims and their families, especially for those repatriated from abroad. The new system facilitates immediate coordination of reports through IACAT with Philippine foreign service posts and Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs), ensuring continuity of assistance upon return to the Philippines.
A significant feature of the enhanced system is the use of a unified intake information sheet, which minimizes repetitive interviews and paperwork that can retraumatize survivors as they are moved between agencies. This standardized approach allows information gathered at the first point of contact to be used across all agencies involved in assistance and case-building.
A trafficking survivor, referred to as 'Kurt' to protect his identity, underscored the importance of clear referral mechanisms, stating that victims are more likely to escape and recover when they know where to seek help and trust that support will be available.
Labor Attach© and Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) OIC Geraldine Mendez highlighted that services are now delivered 'door to door,' ensuring continuous support from the foreign service, through arrival at the airport, the central office, and finally to their local government.
Cacdac mentioned that the guidelines were initially rolled out to frontline airport and law enforcement personnel in Metro Manila and will be implemented nationwide in phases next year, including Clark, Cebu, and Davao. A complementary set of operational guidelines for trafficking cases in seaports will also be developed, starting in Zamboanga.
'When referral leads to action, that is when it truly impacts our citizens and our victims,' Cacdac concluded.
