PIA Press Release
Friday, January 13, 2012

DILG Siquijor pushes for creation of prov’l committee on anti-trafficking, VAWC

SIQUIJOR, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Siquijor pushes for the creation of the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC) as issued in a joint Memorandum Circular with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DILG issued the joint Memo Circular to effectively implement Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003” and Republic Act No. 9262 also known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children At of 2004.”

The provincial government drafted An Executive Order to create the PCAT-VAWC with the governor as chairman and the provincial social welfare and development officer as co-chairperson.

Members of the committee shall be composed of the provincial planning and development coordinator, provincial health officer, Sangguniang Panlalawigan chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children and Family, public employment and services officer (PESO), provincial schools division superintendent, Civil Service Commission field officer/director, provincial prosecutor, provincial directors of the DILG, Philippine National Police (PNP) and non-government organization representatives from the women sector, children sector, overseas Filipino workers and Interfaith representative.

In the draft, the PCAT-VAWC shall draft policies and create programs to protect women and children who are victims of trafficking and violence such as formulating local ordinances and resolutions.

It shall also create and establish systems on surveillance, investigation and rescue to ensure effective and efficient coordination; and undertake information education and advocacy campaign against trafficking in persons and VAWC.

Further, it monitors and oversees the strict implementation of RA 9208, RA 9262 and other related laws for the protection of women and children and of the Inter-agency Council for Anti-Traffiking (IACAT) Inter-Agency Council for VAWc (IACVAWC).

Meanwhile, the IACAT-Advocacy and Communications Committee (AICAT-ADVOCOM) chaired by the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) is set to conduct a regional cluster training for a pool of speakers on the intensified anti-human trafficking campaign of the government and the 1343 Actionline Against Human Trafficking.

To be held on Jan. 18-20, the activity will gather 40 participants from government agencies and non-government organizations in the Visayas region involved in anti-trafficking activities and services.

It is aimed at preparing key point persons in popularizing key messages on trafficking and its related concern.

The three-day IACAT ADVOCOM Regional Speakers Bureau will be held at the Golden Prince Hotel Suites in Cebu City. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)