Budget airfares are making it easier and cheaper for illegal recruiters and syndicates to continue the trafficking of Filipinos to Singapore, a sectoral representative has said.

Alliance for Rural Concerns party-list Rep. Narciso Santiago cited the introduction of budget airfares as the "aggravating factor" in the increasing number of trafficked Filipinos to the city state.

Santiago quoted a report by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Belen Anota saying there were 212 cases of human trafficking in 2007. These cases represented a 70 percent increase from the 125 reported the year before.

"Likewise, the embassy handled in 2007 the highest number of trafficking cases since the embassy started monitoring these cases three years ago, when there were only 59 cases reported," Santiago said.

Santiago, who is the vice-chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development, said the alleged report described the increase as "alarming" even as it represent only a small fraction of all Filipino human trafficking victims in Singapore.

This prompted him to urged fellow legislators to conduct an inquiry into the increasing number of cases of trafficked Filipinos in Singapore.

"Those interviewed have said many others were either unable or too afraid to escape from where they were being exploited," Santiago said.

Young Filipino women are lured into the activity by illegal recruiters or syndicates who promise them of non-existent jobs in Singapore.

"Filipino victims are pushed to try their luck in Singapore not only because of poverty but also because of the promise of a lucrative job overseas. The report states that the existence of a large number of bars/pubs in Singapore’s red light districts fuel the demand for Filipino women," he said.

He added that each victim is charged with a minimum of $100 as recruitment fee in the Philippines and are given roundtrip tickets, oftentimes fake, a bogus invitation letter and show money for presentation to Philippine immigration officials who check their financial capacity as tourists.

"But instead of having legitimate jobs, Filipino women reportedly end up working as prostitutes. They are forced to provide sexual services to customers and earn commissions from alcoholic drinks to enable them to pay the $1,000 to $4,000 they allegedly owe their handlers," he said.

Budget carriers service Manila-Singapore flights and back. Flights leave from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga.

Tiger Airways, one of the budget carriers, charges for as low as $120 for  a one-way ticket.

A one-way ticket for Cebu Pacific, meanwhile, sells for P3,899.