IN its continuing drive to end human trafficking activities in the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is looking at entering into more bilateral agreements with other countries.
In a statement, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said they are working towards forging more bilateral pacts that will provide measures against trafficking in persons.
“We intend to pursue more bilateral agreements with anti-trafficking provisions as our contribution to the global efforts against modern slavery,” Ople said.
The Philippines has existing bilateral labor agreements with provisions against trafficking in persons with the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Jordan.
But aside from entering into bilateral pacts, the DMW chief stressed that aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) must also be empowered to deter human trafficking.
She said this is because OFWs are the ones directly dealing with human traffickers.
“Even the most beautifully crafted multilateral or bilateral agreement cannot turn a cruel heart into the kindest one,” said Ople.
Earlier, President Marcos Jr. ordered the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to step up and harmonize government and private sector efforts in fighting and ending human trafficking in the country.
The government believes that trafficking of persons could worsen as the global economy recovers from the coronavirus disease pandemic.
