REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA -- The Philippine government vowed on Wednesday to step up its efforts to prevent human traffickers from exploiting survivors of typhoon "Haiyan," locally named "Yolanda."

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima made the assurance after a congressman from the United States warned that women and children risk falling prey to human traffickers in the aftermath of the catastrophic typhoon.

De Lima, who is chairman of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said the Philippine government will roll out additional measures to prevent human trafficking and illegal recruitment activities in calamity-affected areas.

In his speech before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs sub- committee on Tuesday, Republican congressman Chris Smith said women, children, the elderly and those with special needs "always fare worst during disasters" and that they are at risk of sex trafficking and abuse.

Smith also said survivors of typhoon "Haiyan" could fall victim to illegal recruiters who promise to find them work in other countries.

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