Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco Participates in the Human Trafficking Outreach Roundtable ahead of
Major Events in the Bay Area
(Left photo) Office of Foreign Mission Regional Director John Choi welcoming the members of the Consular Corps to the event; (Right photo) Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes discussing the Consulate’s initiatives to combat human trafficking with Regional Director Choi. (SFPCG photo)
San Francisco, California – The Philippine Consulate General, led by Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes, attended the 2026 Human Trafficking Outreach Roundtable for the Bay Area Consular Corps, hosted by the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) Regional Office in San Francisco on 22 January 2026.
The forum emphasized the role of Consular Missions in the prevention and protection of their nationals from potential human trafficking, as the Bay Area prepares to host major events, including the Super Bowl, NCAA March Madness and the FIFA World Cup this year. The resource speakers, Ms. Sharan Dhanoa, Director of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, and Mr. Josh Singleton, Commander of the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force, discussed law enforcement preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and policy alignment with a focus on prevention and victim protection.
After the program, Consulate representatives continued to engage in conversation with Ms. Dhanoa, informing her of the Consulate’s willingness to assist in disseminating information on human trafficking as it is also part of the mandate of its Assistance-to-Nationals section. The Consulate also provided Ms. Dhanoa with its hotline numbers for inclusion in the information provided in the Safety4theBay site, an online platform that directs residents, visitors and foreign nationals to county-specific safety and human rights resources and provides reliable access to assistance. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco remains committed to assisting vulnerable overseas Filipinos who may encounter issues during these periods of heightened risk. The Consulate also reaffirms its commitment to building a strong partnership with local and state governments, partners and civil society organizations to combat trafficking in all forms. END.
Ms. Sharan Dhanoa, Director of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, and Mr. Josh Singleton, Commander of the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force discussing law enforcement preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and policy alignment with a focus on prevention and victim protection.
(Left photo) DCG Cortes and ATN Officer Bernice Santayana speaking with Ms. Dhanoa after the seminar. (Right photo) DCG Cortes and Political Officer Lalaine Bacha with Singapore Consul Tim Ye Ling. (SFPCG photos)