New offloading rule to boost anti-trafficking drive – Binay
abs-cbnNEWS.com
January 18, 2012

  MANILA, Philippines – The newly-approved offloading guidelines for international-bound passengers hopes to strengthen the government’s campaign against human trafficking.

“The offloading policy has contributed to our gains in the drive against trafficking, and as a result, our country was elevated to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking index. This year, we hope to be elevated to Tier 1,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a statement.

Binay said the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) had directed a technical working group to come up with the guidelines to ensure transparency and consistency in the implementation of the offloading policy and remove any room for the exercise of personal discretion.

“We believe the new guidelines are more comprehensive since the IACAT already has a wider membership, which include non-government organizations. We made a point to incorporate all their inputs,” Binay said.

Binay said IACAT will remain open to the sentiments of travelers, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“If there are still complaints stemming from an oversight in the guidelines, we will act and improve on them,” said Binay, who is also IACAT’s chairman emeritus.

The new guidelines outline the requirements for the assessment of international-bound passengers based on four categories, namely: tourists; Overseas Filipino Workers; immigrants and permanent residents; and special classes of passengers.

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