BAGUIO CITY — Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has recently issued a memorandum circular calling for the reorganization of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Secretariat.
De Lima, chairperson of IACAT, said Memorandum Circular No. 21 of 2012 seeks to establish the reorganization of IACAT to increase the effectiveness and coordination of its members, various agencies and non-government partners comprising the agency.
The Circular articulated that the IACAT Secretariat, in the interest of service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, has been reorganized into nine divisions which would respond to specific tasks aimed to enhance the government's anti-human trafficking efforts.
The following personnel were designated as Executive Officers of the Secretariat: State Counsel IV Mary Grace Quintana (Legal), Attorney V Marie Michelle Munoz (Financial Management), Attorney VI Jennifer Buan-Robles (International and Foreign Relations), Former DOJ Assistant Secretary Teresita Domingo (Legislative Monitoring), State Counsel II Chulo Palencia, Jr. (Training), Khrizzy Avila (Case Monitoring and Administrative Management), Janet Chavez-Arceo (Public Information and Communications), Ruby Ramores (Strategic Management and Special Operations), and Assistant City Prosecutor Jedrek Ng (Task Force Operations Monitoring).
DOJ Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, Undersecretary-in-charge of IACAT, expressed that "these appointed individuals have good standing and displayed exemplary merit with regards to involvement in the prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons."
Since its creation on May 26, 2003, the IACAT has been at the forefront of the long-drawn battle against trafficking in persons (TIP).
Drawing committed support from an expansive range of partners from the government, private sector and international development organizations, the IACAT has made significant strides in the Philippines' campaign against trafficking in persons.
"The reorganization of the Secretariat seeks to trim down fragmentation, increase effectiveness, enhance quality of services, streamline practices, develop skills, and better utilize resources within a transparent environment," Salazar said.
The IACAT Secretariat was created by virtue of Section 22 of Republic Act No. 9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2003", designating the DOJ to create the administrative unit.
The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9208 charged the Secretariat to coordinate and monitor, under the direction of the IACAT, the implementation of the policies and guidelines promulgated by the IACAT.
The Secretariat was similarly tasked to establish, maintain and manage a central database on trafficking in persons.
It is also required to keep records for the IACAT. (PNA)
Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/46759-IACAT-Secretariat-strengthened,-reorganized.html
