CATANDUANES, Philippines – To establish and strengthen local structure that will collaboratively address the problems of trafficking and violence against women and their children, Gov. Joseph C. Cua has issued Executive Order No. 13 creating the Provincial Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PIACAT-VAWC) in the province.
Republic Act 9208 declares that the State shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures and development of programs that will promote human dignity, protect the people from violence and exploitation, eliminate trafficking in persons, and mitigate pressures for involuntary migration and servitude of persons to ensure their recovery, rehabilitation, and integration.
Republic Act 9262 also underscores the commitment of the State on safeguarding the dignity of women and children while guaranteeing full respect of their human rights and to protect them from violence and threats for their personal safety. Cua said that the establishment of the PIACAT-VAWC aims to establish functional parallel structure and system at the local level, which will monitor and oversee implementation of the provisions of RAs 9208 and 9262 and other women/VAWC-related laws and policies; Increase the capacities of local partners in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and gender responsive policies and programs; Empower and mobilize resources of the local community in the prevention, recovery and reintegration of victims/survivors; and Establish partnership and participation on Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and People’s Organization (POs) in the development and implementation of programs and activities that will address human trafficking and VAWC.
The following are the functions of the Committee: Institute policies and programs to protect women and children who are victims of trafficking and violence through the formulation of local ordinances and resolution; Create and establish systems on surveillance, investigation, and rescue to ensure effective and efficient coordination; Undertake information, education and advocacy campaign against trafficking in persons and VAWC; Monitor and oversee 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 on Violence Against women and Children (IACVAWC) national plans of action and Convene on a quarterly basis.
Catanduanes creates inter-agency committee on anti-trafficking, violence against women
