Top-tier U.S. trafficking status maintained

The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 status in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for the 11th consecutive year, reaffirming the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) said.

IACAT said the recognition reflects more than a decade of sustained efforts to strengthen the country’s response to human trafficking.

The council credited government agencies and nongovernment partners for their continuing efforts to improve prevention, victim protection, prosecution and partnerships against human trafficking.

It said that while the recognition affirms the country’s continued efforts, it also reinforces the responsibility to build on these gains and respond to evolving forms of exploitation.

The latest report recognized key developments in the country’s anti-trafficking response, including adopting a nationwide mandatory Victim Identification System and an enhanced National Referral Mechanism; expanding IACAT’s prosecutorial task forces; launching the IACAT ProtectPortal; and increasing government investment in prevention efforts.

Vida pats self

Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida linked the country’s continued Tier 1 status to the responsibility to deliver compassionate, victim-centered justice.

“As Chair of the IACAT, the Department of Justice remains committed to advancing a system of justice that champions victim protection. Our pursuit of justice must place victims at the center of our efforts and be guided by compassion. As we mark the Philippines’ 11 consecutive years of Tier 1 ranking in the fight against human trafficking, may we all move forward with renewed determination to continually improve our efforts to ensure that every victim receives the justice they deserve,” he said.

Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty, Undersecretary-in-Charge of IACAT, likewise emphasized the importance of sustaining this collective momentum.

He said the country’s continued Tier 1 status for 11 consecutive years reflects the collective resolve of government agencies and non-government partners to confront human trafficking through sustained and coordinated action.