by Jonnie H. Buenaventura
from PIA Press Release

Tacloban City (29 July) -- Republic Act 9208 also known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, institute government policies to eliminate trafficking in persons, especially women and children... It establishes the necessary mechanisms to protect and support trafficked persons, and provides penalties for violations.

With the creation of this law, the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ) and other agency concerned was instructed under the provisions of R.A 9208 to use their vast resources for prevention, detection, capturing and prosecution of the offender and safeguard the victims of all sorts that is available to her.

from The Sunday Times

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Occidental is implementing a local anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) databanking re-training program and is making use of local resources to conduct it.

The conduct of a re-training on TIP databanking is challenging as the agency has budgeting priorities and the usual fund limitations. However, the PNP Negros Occidental showed how low- or no-cost activities could be done for real with a little imagination.

from PIA Press Release

Bacolod City (11 June) -- Vallacar Transit Inc. recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with an Anti Trafficking In Person (ATIP) crusading NGO, Philippine Solidarity Office (PSO), that would, among others, give free bus fares to returning trafficking victims.

ATIP National Project Coordinator Anna Lee Foz of the United States Department of State Solidarity Center said the MOA contains provisions allowing returning trafficking victim and his or her accompanying family members to have a free bus fare.

NAPOLCOM's Anti-Trafficking MC No. 2004-03
The National Police Commission adopted on 18 May 2004 Memorandum Circular 2004-03 "Guidelines for Improving Case Management and Initiating Efforts Towards Addressing the Problem of Trafficking in Persons" which "orders and directs the PNP to: xxx institutionalize the strict observance of the Standard Reporting Format" for Women's and Children's Protection Desks in all police stations and other offices having stake in such cases, including the submission of accomplished forms to the Napolcom; xxx" The Standard Reporting Format developed by the Project's TWG.

At the representation of Anti-Trafficking Project 1, DILG issued DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2005-26 "Strict Implementation of Republic Act No. 9208"

At the representation of Anti-Trafficking Project 2, DILG issued DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2006-172 "Strengthening LGU's efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons" 

The Sub-Committee on Reintegration completed the Guide in Accessing Services for Victims-Survivors of Trafficking in Persons, after 14 draft versions in almost two years of multi-agency, multi-sectoral  discussions chaired by the DSWD. The Anti-Trafficking Project2 TWG approved the Guide in its meeting on 12 October 2006. The Community Networks have also developed and posted local versions of the Guide based on the approved National/NCR Guide. 

Local ordinances are among the Project's advocacy for jump-starting anti-trafficking activities at the local level.

• City Ordinance No. 360-s2008
  City Government of Talisay, Province of Negros Occidental
  
• Resolution No. 151-s2008
  Municipality of Monkayo, Province of Compostela Valley
  
• Resolution No. 08-s2008
  Province of Cavite
  
• Ordinance No. 77-s2008
  Municipality of Balingoan, Province of Misamis Oriental
• Resolution No. 224-s2008
  Municipality of Monkayo, Province of Compostela Valley
• Ordinance No. 22-s2007
  Municipality of E.B. Magalona, Province of Negros Occidental
• Resolution No. 20-s2007
  City Government of General Santos

Access to Local Ordinances/Resolutions require membership. 

The TWG of the Anti-Trafficking Project developed the following instruments to help implement the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act:

• Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) with Transport Sector
• Checklist of Evidence per Type of TIP Violation
• Guide Q & A to Establish Type of Violation
• Sample Complaint Affivadit
  
• Community Networks Commitment of Support
• Standard Reporting Format for Trafficking & Trafficking Related Cases
• Standard Monitoring Form on TIP cases
  
• Sample Anti-Trafficking Local Ordinance
• Sample Anti-Trafficking Local Ordinance in Tagalog

Some Good Practices in Prosecuting Cases
--under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208)

A Synthesis of Project-Handled Trafficking Cases

• Selected Documents to Implement the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
  (4th Edition)
  
  
• Selected Documents to Implement the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
  (August 2004)
  
  
• Primers
• The Popular English Version
• The Popular Tagalog Version
• The Popular Waray Version
• The Popular Cebuano Version
  
  
• Anti-Trafficking Laws, Rules and Local Instruments