88. The State party amended its TIP law to strengthen the provisions on law enforcement and prosecution. The amended TIP law now penalizes attempted trafficking and accessories or accomplices to the offense of TIP; providing for extraterritorial application of the law; and enhanced protection to trafficked persons. 89. The State party established Inter-Agency Committee against Trafficking and Violence against Women and their Children in 17 regions, 40 provinces, 38 cities, and 82 municipalities. These mechanisms provide holistic support to migrants and their children who have survived domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, harassment and other forms of gender-based violence. The inter-agency committee also organized several task forces to immediate respond to trafficking cases, created a special team of prosecutors to prosecute TIP cases71, and developed policies and guidelines on investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases.72 90. The State party directed all its public prosecutors to prioritize and fast-track the resolution and trial of TIP cases, with further instruction to oppose motions designed to delay the prosecution, and to prohibit the dismissal of TIP cases on grounds of Affidavit of Desistance executed by the victims or his/her guardians. Judges at trial courts were also directed to expedite and prioritize the disposition of TIP cases, and submit the list and status report of cases pending in their respective courts73. (c) Strengthen anti-illegal recruitment campaign and provide adequate funding for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action against Trafficking (d) Continue collaboration with all relevant partners to increase advocacy, information, education and overall public awareness activities 91. The State party is committed to strengthen its anti-illegal recruitment campaign and provide adequate funding for the implementation of the national strategic plan of action against trafficking. It is also committed to continue to collaborate with relevant partners in advocacy, information, education, and overall public awareness activities. 92. The State party proactively responded to the need of the overseas worker-applicants for reliable information on overseas employment programme, procedures and documentary requirements, advantages and disadvantages of overseas employment, government services, and modus operandi of illegal recruiters and traffickers PEOS74. 93. Part of the prevention strategy is the distribution of information materials to targeted communities. These materials include information on the modus operandi of illegal 71 There are 20 prosecutors at the DOJ main office specifically designated to handle and prosecute TIP cases. Sixty (60) prosecutors serve in the National Capital Region and in various provincial and city prosecution offices. They are tasked to conduct investigation and prosecute TIP cases. There are also 43 prosecutors designated to assist law enforcement operatives in their case build up. In addition to the foregoing key personnel, there are 154 technical assistants helping the DOJ, NBI, the IACAT task forces and the Secretariat in handling the IACAT’s daily operations and implementation of programs and activities. 72 These guidelines include: a) Standard Operating Procedures for Task Forces Against Trafficking in Persons in International Airports; b) Manual on Law Enforcement and Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons Cases; c) Model Local Ordinance against Trafficking in Persons; d) Manual on the Recovery and Reintegration of Victim-Survivors of Trafficking; e) Philippine Guidelines in Handling Trafficked Children, and f) Philippine Guidelines in Handling Trafficked Women. 73 As of January 2014, 121 cases of TIP involving 140 traffickers resulted in conviction. Ninety-two (92) or 76% of the total number of convictions were obtained from the period July 2010 to January 2014. Moreover, simultaneous with the filing of criminal cases against the recruiters or traffickers is the filing of administrative cases against government officials or employees involved in the acts of TIP. Twenty-seven (27) administrative cases have been filed against 67 government employees involved in TIP cases. 74 There had been 4,505 PEOS sessions conducted by the State Party and by its program-partners in the past 5 years that benefited a total of 562,179 participants. These sessions were held nationwide either in schools/ universities, churches, communities, or State Party offices. The other PEOS channels are – PEOS in the Air (guestings in TV and radio public affairs programs) and in shopping malls. For 2011-2013, partnerships with 241 local governments units were firmed up for the conduct of PEOS. 98