Members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) and Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons (MSNAT) held the IACAT-MSNAT Joint Planning last January 26-27, 2005 at the Traders Hotel Manila. The Joint Planning provided a venue to update on organizational initiatives and to brainstorm and plan for future areas of collaboration between the two bodies.

21:56 Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Joint Planning Conference of the

Multisectoral Network Agains Trafficking (MSNAT)

and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)

January 26-27, 2005

Traders’ Hotel, Manila

Proceedings of Day #1

I.                    Call to Order/Opening Prayer:

The joint planning started at 9:00 a.m. with an Opening Prayer delivered by Mr. Vic Allan Abadesco, Training Officer, VF-Cebu Field Office.

II.                 Welcome Remarks

Ms. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda gave the Welcome Remarks in behalf of the Multi-Sectoral Network against Trafficking (MSNAT) in Persons.

She emphasized that the participants of the said event attended not just for the sake of working but of personal dedication to really address the issue of trafficking.

III.               Keynote Address

Atty. Ricardo V. Paras III, Acting Chairman of the IACAT delivered a Keynote Address in behalf of the DOJ and IACAT.

He said that the MSNAT and IACAT plan and come up with a common area of cooperation in order to implement effectively the law on anti-trafficking. He further added that cooperation should be one of the objectives of said affair in order to protect women and children against trafficking.

IV.              Introduction of Participants:  A round of introduction among participants was conducted.

The facilitator summarized the expectations made by the participants, namely:

1.       Clearer coordination and collaboration among agencies/organizations

2.       Identify roles of each agency/organization

3.       Get a complete picture of the anti-trafficking efforts in the country

4.       Identify the areas that need more improvement

5.       Come up with feasible plans against trafficking

6.       Gain ownership of the action plan that will be produced

V.                 Presentations:

Theme 1: Where are we now?

a)      IACAT Updates: Atty. Robert L. Larga, Focal Person/ Secretariat of the Inter-agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) made updates on the implementation of RA 9208 and the initiatives of said collegial body.

He further explained the background of Republic Act 9208, creation of the IACAT and its composition, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Accomplishments and Initiatives

·         promulgated the rule and regulations implementing the law

·         streamlined the functions of the Senior Government Working Group to implement the anti-smuggling law

·         established line of coordination with various agencies and bodies dealing with trafficking

·         institutionalized consultative and coordinative mechanism with NGOs (regular meeting with NGOs)

·         discussed with Japanese counterpart issues affecting Filipino entertainers in Japan (raised the issues, know the current initiatives)

·         recommended/caused the adoption of measures to address issues affecting trafficking in persons

·         BI adopted measures to curtail escort services at international airports

·         POEA facilitated the immediate verification of licensed/unlicensed recruitment agencies (for purposes of filing of illegal recruitment)

·         NBI created the Anti-Human Trafficking Division

·         DOJ created a special task force to conduct preliminary investigation of trafficking cases

·         Recommended the designation of prosecutors in all provincial and city prosecution office to handle trafficking cases

·         PNP mainstreamed of trafficking cases in Women and Children’s Desks

·         Formulated the National Strategic Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons

serves as the blueprint for all action in combating trafficking and protection of victims

·         Developed a Standard Orientation Module on RA 9208 and its IRR

-explains the salient features of the provisions of the law, established procedures and the roles responsibilities of the govt agencies and other stakeholders

-includes PPT presentations and speaker’s notes

·         Issued the guidelines for the establishment of the inter-agency task force against trafficking (airports, seaports, and land-based)

·         Printed and disseminated the law and its IRR (supported by TAF)

·         Popularizing the law and its IRR

·         Endorsed for the Presidents approval the issuance of an EO declaring Dec. 12 of every year as National Day against trafficking in Persons

·         Continually monitors cases

Challenges, Needs and Future Action

·         Need to develop a national documentation system and database

  -development of standard reporting forma

  -setting up of reporting mechanism (hotlines)

  -development of database

·         Need for additional resources to coordinate the implementation of the stratplan

·         Need to continually build the capacities of frontline service providers

 -conduct of trainings, development of manuals/protol on the conduct of surveilace, detection arrest investigation of traff cases

·         Need to orient the media practitioners on the gender-sensitive and child-friendly coverage of trafficking cases

·         Need to develop a national documentation

·         Need to localize the implementation of the law

  -enactment of local ordinances

  -strengthening of local mechanisms/expansion of community protection networks

  -development of programs and services of the prevention

·         Need to furter educate communities including parents, women and children on the effects and risks of migration

·         Need to ensure the availability of and access to programs and services provided by the government

b)      MSNAT updates: Ms. Ma. Cecilia F. Oebanda made updates on the initiatives of the Multi-sectoral Network against Trafficking (MSNAT) in Persons.

The MSNAT focuses in the Regions in the areas of prevention, prosecution & protection; and Healing & Reintegration in order to foster partnerships in different levels. It needs a creative synergy among frontline institutions.

What we have achieved (small steps but giant strides)

Prevention:

·         mobilizing stakeholders action (building Multisectoral formations in key areas (e.g., VF port halfway houses)

·         Facilitating the integration of existing programs and services in sending and transit areas (sending and receiving areas: Samar, Cebu)

·         Strengthening and encouraging LGU-led and grassroots-based initiatives for direct actions to prevent trafficking in their areas (e.g. Liloan Port, Visayas to Surigao)

·         Reviewing and strengthening the legal and regulatory environment at the local level

·         Integrating trafficking issues in curriculums, existing information and dissemination thru (DepEd)

·         Training of community educators and advocates in key resource and transit areas (ECPAT, CATWAP, LGUs)

·         Conduct of special community education sessions in receiving communities

·         Nascent action by special groups like children’s association and General Parents-Teachers’ and Community Associations (GPTCA’s);

·         Regular media campaigns in source and transit communities through TV guesting, production and distribution of radio plugs (PIA, KBP).

·         Active participation in national campaigns such as the Peoples Caravan during the International Day against Child Trafficking

·         Production of and dissemination of IEC materials (posters, tarpaulin, brochures)

Protection/Healing and Reintegration:

·         Increase in the number of interception and rescues in VF-PPA halfway houses through the referrals and coordinated actions of established multi-sectoral formations

·         Popularized existing hotlines and information assistance services

·         Facilitating inter-LGU cooperation for more effective actions (LGU Summit on Anti-Trafficking in Southern Leyte) supported by Plan Phils.

·         Regular orientation and capacity-building activities for front-liners in strategic seaports

·         Started the establishment of a more effective service delivery network among social welfare agencies in key areas

Prosecution:

·            Filing of RA 9208 test cases

·             institutionalizing multi-agency case monitoring systems

·             Creative Responses Towards Anti-Trafficking Law Enforcement (CREATE) Project (i.e., Handbook on Anti-Trafficking, National Summit and Regional Consultations-Validations)

·             facilitating island-wide multidisciplinary cooperation trainings and conferences

Challenges and difficulties: MSNAT

On strengthening t