Posted on July 01, 2011 07:04:34 PM
THE INTER-AGENCY Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) is set to receive more funds for 2012 to further its anti-trafficking operations. The government is intent on making the country fully compliant with minimum international standards for the prevention of human trafficking.
"By next year, the Aquino administration has allocated no less than P75 million for this [IACAT] trafficking effort," Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente B. Salazar, who is in charge of the anti-trafficking activities of the Justice Department (DoJ), said.
This is higher than the P50 million allocated for the IACAT this year.
Mr. Salazar said P50 million of the budget will go to the Justice Department’s anti-human trafficking efforts and services, while the remaining P25 million will be allocated for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support its efforts in the field.
For the DoJ’s part, Mr. Salazar said the fund will be used to establish anti-human trafficking task forces in all international entry points in the country.
"We already have seven task forces at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport and in Zamboanga, among others," he said.
"We intend to duplicate this effort in all regions as well as have a task force in all international airports and seaports around the country. We believe we can achieve it by next year," Mr Salazar added.
The IACAT is also set to launch its operations center, which will be a one-stop shop for human trafficking concerns with representatives from the DoJ, DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment, National Bureau of Investigation and other relevant government agencies lending assistance.
Mr. Salazar said that the higher budget is a recognition of the government on the seriousness of human trafficking and the need to resolve it.
"Before, other stakeholders complained that they took the lead in raiding establishments engaged in human trafficking. Now, the government is at the forefront of this campaign and other stakeholders are in a supporting capacity," he said. -- Nathaniel R. Melican
This is higher than the P50 million allocated for the IACAT this year.
Mr. Salazar said P50 million of the budget will go to the Justice Department’s anti-human trafficking efforts and services, while the remaining P25 million will be allocated for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support its efforts in the field.
For the DoJ’s part, Mr. Salazar said the fund will be used to establish anti-human trafficking task forces in all international entry points in the country.
"We already have seven task forces at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport and in Zamboanga, among others," he said.
"We intend to duplicate this effort in all regions as well as have a task force in all international airports and seaports around the country. We believe we can achieve it by next year," Mr Salazar added.
The IACAT is also set to launch its operations center, which will be a one-stop shop for human trafficking concerns with representatives from the DoJ, DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment, National Bureau of Investigation and other relevant government agencies lending assistance.
Mr. Salazar said that the higher budget is a recognition of the government on the seriousness of human trafficking and the need to resolve it.
"Before, other stakeholders complained that they took the lead in raiding establishments engaged in human trafficking. Now, the government is at the forefront of this campaign and other stakeholders are in a supporting capacity," he said. -- Nathaniel R. Melican
E-mail
Print
No comments:
Post a Comment