Government agencies under the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) vowed to strengthen the fight against human trafficking during the launch of National Anti-Trafficking Awareness Month at the Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday.

IACAT Assistant Secretary-in-Charge Michelle Lapuz said organized crime can only be defeated through the strict implementation of anti-trafficking laws and a coordinated justice system.

“Our success lies in our willingness to work across institutions, across sectors, and across national borders. When criminals organize across borders to exploit humanity, nations and communities must unite to fight it,” Lapuz said.

This year’s campaign theme is “Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang Human Trafficking Ngayon” (One Nation, One Action: End Human Trafficking Now).

Lapuz noted that the Philippines continues to maintain its Tier 1 status in the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

Tier 1 status is granted to governments that fully meet the minimum standards set under the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

At present, the Philippines continues to hold the top anti-trafficking ranking despite persistent challenges, including corruption issues and gaps in victim protection.

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development director Irish M. Opeña said the government continues to provide assistance to trafficking survivor-victims nationwide through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons.

For the first quarter of 2026, the government handled 507 cases consisting of 394 new cases and 113 continuing cases.

Opeña said the National Capital Region recorded the highest number of trafficking survivor-victims this year with 206 reported cases.

She said the government has allocated P21 million for survivor assistance, covering financial aid and sustainable livelihood support.

“Financial assistance is only a one-time form of help for victim-survivors. What we want is for them to have a sustainable source of income, of course to prevent them from being re-victimized and from going back to the activities they were previously forced or drawn into,” Opeña said.