Manila: Ahead of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, Catholic bishops in the Philippines have renewed their appeal for more robust diocesan structures to confront what they describe as a persistent and deeply rooted crisis of human exploitation across the country.
Marking the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on February 1, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the Church to intensify its institutional and pastoral response to trafficking, warning that Filipinos continue to face multiple and evolving forms of abuse. These include illegal recruitment, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and the rapidly expanding threat of online abuse, particularly involving children.
In a statement, the bishops described human trafficking as a “serious and enduring concern” that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, especially in densely populated urban areas. They emphasized the need for closer collaboration between Church institutions and government agencies to address the scale and complexity of the problem.
Citing findings from the United Nations Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings, the CBCP noted that the majority of trafficking victims in the Philippines are adult women, followed by minor girls. Data also indicate that many reported cases originate in Metro Manila and other major urban centers, highlighting the role of cities as both recruitment hubs and exploitation sites.
The bishops expressed alarm over the increasing use of digital platforms by traffickers, who exploit social media and online job portals to deceive victims with false promises of employment, both within the country and overseas. They warned that the digitalization of recruitment has made trafficking more difficult to detect and easier to scale.
According to the CBCP, structural issues such as poverty, limited access to education, armed conflict, and recurring natural disasters continue to heighten the vulnerability of many Filipinos. These conditions, they said, are routinely manipulated by traffickers through online channels that target individuals and families desperate for economic security.
“Human trafficking is not merely a social issue; it is a profound moral concern that calls for conversion of hearts and transformation of systems,” the bishops said. They stressed that the Church has a moral duty to defend human dignity, protect the vulnerable, and challenge social and economic structures that allow exploitation to persist. The bishops reaffirmed their commitment to supporting national anti-trafficking initiatives through diocesan programs aligned with the Church’s pastoral mission and available resources.
In a separate appeal, Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa, chair of the CBCP Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, called on dioceses nationwide to establish and strengthen Diocesan Committees Against Human Trafficking. He said such bodies are essential for ensuring a coordinated and sustained response at both pastoral and institutional levels.
The commission reported that around 12 diocesan anti-trafficking committees have been formed over the past three years, most of them in Luzon. Bishop Mesiona encouraged the expansion of these structures to other regions and urged parishes to actively integrate anti-trafficking awareness into catechesis, social action programs, and community outreach.
He called on parishes to become “spaces of vigilance, education, and protection,” where communities are equipped to recognize trafficking risks and respond promptly to suspected cases.
The bishops’ renewed appeal comes in the lead-up to the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, observed annually on February 8. The day was instituted by Pope Francis and coincides with the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave and patron saint of trafficking survivors.
Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned human trafficking as a “scourge” and a grave violation of human dignity, calling on governments, institutions, and faith communities to work together to eradicate the crime and support survivors.