Creating Executive Council to Suppress Human Trafficking

The Executive Order establishes an integrated approach for reviewing, considering, approving, managing, and monitoring bilateral, regional, and multilateral initiatives to suppress trafficking in persons, particularly women and children.
The Executive Order emphasizes the need to institutionalize coordination and collaboration among concerned government agencies to achieve greater efficiency in implementing anti-trafficking programs.

Section 1 creates an Executive Council on the Suppression of Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children.
Section 2 provides that the Executive Council is chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Section 2 provides that the Executive Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of Interior and Local Government.
Section 2 makes the following department Secretaries members of the Executive Council:
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Department of National Defense (DND)
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
- Department of Tourism (DOT)
- Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the President (OP)

The Executive Council is supported by a Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) under Section 2.
The TCC consists of the following support agencies under Section 2:
- Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF)
- Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC)
- National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM)
- Philippine National Police (PNP)
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
- Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)
- National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
- Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
- Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
- National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
Section 2 directs the TCC to coordinate with civil society (particularly NGOs), the private business sector, academe, and other interest groups in formulating policies and implementing government initiatives to suppress trafficking in persons, particularly women and children.
Section 2 provides that the Department of Foreign Affairs serves as Chair of the TCC, and the TCC elects from among themselves a Co-Chair and a Vice-Chair.

Section 3 designates the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) as the Secretariat of the Executive Council.
Section 3 grounds PCTC’s Secretariat role in its mandate “to formulate and implement a concerted program of action of all law enforcement, intelligence and other agencies for the prevention and control of transnational crimes,” referencing Section 1 of Executive Order No. 62.
Section 4 requires the Executive Council to assist the President in formulating policies and in their implementation to suppress trafficking in persons, particularly women and children.
Section 4 requires the Executive Council, through the TCC, to undertake appropriate programs and activities in these key areas:
- Advocacy, Education, Training and Other Preventive Measures
- Law Enforcement and Legislative Initiatives
- Criminal Justice Management
- Institutional and Intelligence Build-up and Networking
- National Assistance Program, particularly Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Victims
- Bilateral, Regional and International Cooperation
- Other areas relevant to the suppression of trafficking in persons, particularly women and children

Section 5 requires the Executive Council to ensure the effective exchange of data, information, or any pertinent report between and among member-agencies and support agencies.
Section 6 requires that data and information acquired from agencies be treated as confidential.
Section 6 limits use of acquired data and information to lawful and official purposes.
Section 6 directs the TCC to formulate necessary guidelines defining the levels of access security guidelines for data and information.

Section 8 requires the Executive Council to convene within 30 days after effectivity to consider and approve necessary implementing rules and regulations.
Section 9 requires the Executive Council to meet at least once every quarter or as often as necessary.
Section 9 requires the TCC to meet regularly on a monthly basis.
Section 10 requires initial funding for the current year of not less than P5 million, sourced from the Presidential Contingency Fund/PAGCOR.
Section 10 allows member-agencies to draw from their current budgets, including savings and unprogrammed funds.
Section 10 requires that for succeeding years, funding requirements be included in the regular appropriation of the member agencies.
Section 11 requires the Executive Council to submit appropriate reports and recommendations to the President at least once a year or as often as deemed necessary.

Section 7 authorizes the Executive Council to seek assistance and support of any Department, Bureau, Office, or government agency, and to engage civil society to attain its objectives.
Section 12 provides that the Executive Order takes effect immediately.