(b) Sponsorship of a national research program on trafficking and establishment of a
data collection system for monitoring and evaluation purposes;
(c) Provision of necessary technical and material support services to appropriate
government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs);
(d) Sponsorship of conferences and seminars to provide venue for consensus building
amongst the public, the academe, government, NGOs and international organizations;
and
(e) Promotion of information and education campaign on trafficking.
Section 16. Programs that Address Trafficking in Persons. - The government shall establish and
implement preventive, protective and rehabilitative programs for trafficked persons. For this purpose,
the following agencies are hereby mandated to implement the following programs;
(a) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) - shall make available its resources and
facilities overseas for trafficked persons regardless of their manner of entry to the
receiving country, and explore means to further enhance its assistance in eliminating
trafficking activities through closer networking with government agencies in the country
and overseas, particularly in the formulation of policies and implementation of relevant
programs.
The DFA shall take necessary measures for the efficient implementation of the Machine
Readable Passports to protect the integrity of Philippine passports, visas and other
travel documents to reduce the incidence of trafficking through the use of fraudulent
identification documents.
It shall establish and implement a pre-marriage, on-site and pre-departure counseling
program on intermarriages.
(b) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - shall implement
rehabilitative and protective programs for trafficked persons. It shall provide counseling
and temporary shelter to trafficked persons and develop a system for accreditation
among NGOs for purposes of establishing centers and programs for intervention in
various levels of the community.
(c) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - shall ensure the strict
implementation and compliance with the rules and guidelines relative to the
employment of persons locally and overseas. It shall likewise monitor, document and
report cases of trafficking in persons involving employers and labor recruiters.
(d) Department of Justice (DOJ) - shall ensure the prosecution of persons accused of
trafficking and designate and train special prosecutors who shall handle and prosecute
cases of trafficking. It shall also establish a mechanism for free legal assistance for
trafficked persons, in coordination with the DSWD, Integrated Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) and other NGOs and volunteer groups.
(e) National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) - shall actively
participate and coordinate in the formulation and monitoring of policies addressing the
issue of trafficking in persons in coordination with relevant government agencies. It shall