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VP Binay: New offloading guidelines will help thwart trafficking
Vice President Jejomar Binay said an inter-agency body newly-approved guidelines for the departure of international-bound passengers would help curb human trafficking, the illegal trade in human beings for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. "We believe the new guidelines are more comprehensive since the IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) already has a wider membership, which include non-government organizations. We made a point to incorporate all their inputs," Binay, who served as chairman emeritus of IACAT, said in a news release of the Office of the Vice President. He noted how the "offloading" policy led to the decline in cases of human trafficking in the country. "The offloading policy has contributed to our gains in 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," he said. Binay said the IACAT had directed a Technical Working Group (TWG) to come up with guidelines to ensure transparency and consistency in the implementation of the offloading policy. The TWG was also instructed to remove any room for the exercise of personal discretion. Alert to travelers' sentiments Despite the tighter rules, Binay said the IACAT will remain alert to the sentiments of travelers, especially overseas Filipino workers. He said the government will always respect the right to travel, and that the new guidelines will hopefully balance the right to travel with the intensified campaign against trafficking. "If there are still complaints stemming from an oversight in the guidelines, we will act and improve on them," he said. Four categories The new guidelines outline the requirements for the assessment of international-bound passengers based on four categories:
- tourists;
- Overseas Filipino Workers;
- immigrants and permanent residents; and
- special classes of passengers.
- Travelers without financial capacity to travel escorted/accompanied by a foreigner not related.
- Minor traveling alone or unaccompanied by either parent or legal guardian without the required travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
- Repatriated irregular workers in which case, travel may not be allowed without the clearance from the IACAT.
- Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiancé without the CFO Guidance and Counseling Certificate.
- Passengers traveling to countries with existing deployment bans, alert levels and travel advisories and those in possession of a visa to the said countries.
- For passengers intending to depart for the second or more times who stayed abroad for more than one (1) year during its previous departure as a tourist/temporary visitor.
