..st'lUlir 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
{~ffl;t: ~lf tip: ,~Hrrbt\!. 
OF TI-JE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP lOP 3 :14 
SENATE 
S. No. 1623 
.~ 
,". - ,,--
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every 
year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own 
countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a 
country of origin, transit or destination for victims.' As a third world country, the Philippines is 
one of the most vulnerable areas for trafficking. 
As provided in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law of 2003, we have a multi-fronted 
approach against trafficking. In order to stay ahead, we must be able to identifY the best practices 
and implement the same across the system, whenever applicable. 
rr 
C I 
This bill mandates the Department of Justice to identify these best practices and, with 
such practices as basis, to provide for guidelines for all implementing agencies. 
Lw,-
4h'~~ ,O,~ 
. MIRIAM DEF~\lSOR S~TL~c5 
(p 
, http://www.unodc.orglunodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html 
1 


~\'t\irir 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
If)fftrr tIt Ilt.e ,~!'firllH~ 
OF TI-IE PHILIPPINES 
), 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP lOP 3 :14 
.. 
SENATE 
S.No. 1623 
HECEIVlm BV. __ .r-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
PROVIDING FOR BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES IN THE EFFORTS AGAINST 
3 
.TMFFICKINGINPERSONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This act shall be known as "Best Practices Against 
5 
Trafficking in Persons Act." 
6 
SECTION 2 .. Best Practices for Implementing Anti-Trafficking in Person Act. - Within 
7 
one (l) year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Justice, acting as Chair 
8 
of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Council), as provided under Republic Act No. 
'. II " 
9 
9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act," shall develop and publish 
1 0 
guidelines to assist all agencies included in the Council in efforts to improve the implementation 
11 
of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. In developing the guidelines, the Secretary shall consult 
12 
with the members of the Council, the judiciary, and non-government organizations involved in 
\3 
efforts against trafficking in persons. The Secretary should also utilize multi-disciplinary 
14 
research, evidence-based, and promising models and programs; and is encouraged to include 
15 
input from agencies that have developed trafficking-specific programs, courts, law enforcement 
16 
agencies with anti-human trafficking protocols in place, anti-human trafficking nonprofit 
17 
organizations, and human trafficking survivors. The 'guidelines shall include sections on the 
18 
following: 
19 
A. PERSONNEL RESOURCES- Sample training materials, protocols, and screening 
20 
tools that prepare implementing agencies to identify and serve victims of trafficking 
21 
or are at-risk of becoming such a victim. 
1 


I 
B. COLLABORATION- Sample protocols for effective, cross-system collaboration 
2 
between implementing agencies and non-profit organizations, including, but not 
3 
limited to, social welfare, medical and health professionals, local police, detention 
4 
centers and courts, and runaway and homeless youth programs, schools, and 
5 
organizations already serving victims of trafficking. 
6 
C. RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT-
A list of recommendations to establish safe 
7 
residential placements for victims oftrafficking in persons. 
8 
D. DOCUMENTATION AND DATA- Sample protocols and recommended strategies in 
9 
order to identify victims as well as collect, document, and share data across systems. 
10 
Recommendations should be designed to help agencies better understand the type of 
11 
trafficking involved, the scope of .the problem, the specific needs of the population to 
12 
be served, and the degree of victim interaction with multiple systems. 
13 
E. PREVENTION- Recommended actions for implementing agencies and personnel that 
14 
will help to prevent citizens at risk of becoming victims of trafficking in persons from 
15 
being trafficked. 
'" /1 
., p' 
16 
SECTION 3. Submission to Congress. -
A copy of the Best Practices in the 
17 
Implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as provided in the next preceding 
18 
section, shall be submitted to the' appropriate committees of tlie House of Representatives and the 
19 
Senate. 
20 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary for the implementation 
21 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
22 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
23 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
24 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
2 


I 
SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
2 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
, 
_C'?', 
"" 
" 
,. 
n i"" 
"f' 
3