Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said the new travel policy issued by government’s anti-trafficking council will unjustly burden travelers and migrant workers while leaving out more important interventions from the picture.

The new Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) guidelines for international-bound Filipino passengers, which took effect  Sept. 3, requires Filipino travelers to present various documents, even including proof of financial capacity.

“Bakit ang mga biyahero at mga kababayan nating OFWs ang papasan ng bigat at pahihirapan sa kagustuhang masawata ang human trafficking? We are burdening our workers with too many bureaucratic requirements when we should be looking at strategic solutions to address joblessness and poverty, notwithstanding the record of weak prosecution of traffickers in the country,” said Rep. Brosas.

“For as long as wages are criminally low and job opportunities are scarce in the country, syndicates and human traffickers will continue to prey on poor Filipinos and will tap backdoor channels to facilitate trafficking,” she added.

The lawmaker said President Marcos Jr.’s instruction to intensify anti-human trafficking efforts does not coincide with the reputation of the Philippines as haven for Chinese offshore gaming operators, aside from countless cases of Filipinos seeking jobs abroad but end up in trafficking networks.

“We have to address the root of human trafficking, instead of coming up with ridiculous measures that will further add insult to the suffering of our overseas Filipino workers,” she added.

Gabriela Women’s Party said it will send a communication to IACAT to formally convey its position on the new travel guidelines.