Local officials and authorities welcomed the improvement of the Philippines from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in terms of efforts against human trafficking.
In a press conference Friday morning, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) 7 said that the challenge now is to sustain the ranking.
“The challenge now is how to sustain Tier 1. It would need more of our resources, time and coordination. We’re not only celebrating today. But we must also sustain the challenge in our campaign against human trafficking,” said Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, who also heads the IACAT 7.
Tomorrow, July 30, is the World Day Against Trafficking.
Last June 30, the US Department of State’s Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons released their 15th annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
In their report, the Philippines was raised from a Tier 2 ranking to a Tier 1 ranking. Being in Tier 1 means the country fully complies with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. But it doesn’t mean trafficking is completely eliminated.
The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia with a Tier 1 ranking.