ORDINANCE NO: 2020-462 Authored by: Hon. Priscilla M. Fernandez "AN ORDINANCE RECONSTITUTING THE LOCAL COMMITTEE ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN (LCAT-VAWC) FOR THE CITY OF PAGADIAN, PRESCRIBING ITS COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" WHEREAS, Section 11 of Article 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights; WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003" as amended by RA 10634 or the "Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012," provides that the State shall give the highest priority for the enactment of measures and development of programs and services that will promote human dignity, protect the people from any threat of violence and exploitation, eliminate Trafficking In Person (TIP) and mitigate pressures for involuntary migration and servitude of persons, not only to support trafficked persons but more importantly, to ensure their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the mainstream of society; WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9262 otherwise known as Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children provides the commitment of the State on safeguarding the dignity of women and children while ensuring full respect of their human rights and to protect them from violence and threats to their personal safety and security; WHEREAS, in line with the mandate of the afore-mentioned statutes and, to ensure strict compliance and effective implementation thereto, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-01, dated 18 October 2010, which, in gist, directed all Local Government Units to create and organize their respective Local Committee on Anti- Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC); NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) of Pagadian City in session assembled that: SECTION 1. Title. -- This Ordinance shall be known and referred to as "An Ordinance Reconstituting the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) for the City of Pagadian, Prescribing its Composition and Functions, Providing Funds Thereof, and For Other Purposes." SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. -- It is the declared policy of the Local Government of Pagadian, in adherence to national issuances, to reactivate the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) of Pagadian City purposely to strengthen and revitalize their duties and functions by prescribing new compositions and effectively intensify the conduct of monitoring and assessing the problem of human trafficking, harassment, abuses, exploitation and any related acts, within the territorial jurisdiction of Pagadian City. The Local Government of Pagadian City joins the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in attaining the objective of ensuring and monitoring the functionality of LCAT-VAWC. SECTION 3. Reconstitution of Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC). -- The Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) is hereby reconstituted which shall be composed of the following, viz: Chairman : The City Mayor Vice Chairman : The City Vice Mayor Members : Chairperson, SP Committee on Women & Family Welfare : Chairperson, SP Committee on Police, Fire & Public Safety : Chairperson, SP Committee on Laws, Rules & Policy Formulation : President-Liga ng mga Barangay : City Planning and Development Coordinator : City Health Officer : City Public Employment Services Officer : City Chief of Police : Local Government Operation Officer - DILG : NGO Representatives for Women, Children, and Overseas Filipino Workers Secretariat : City Social Welfare and Development Officer SECTION 4. Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC). -- For purposes of this Ordinance, the LCAT-VAWC shall have the following functions, duties and responsibilities: Institute policies and programs to protect women and children who are victims of trafficking and violence (formulate local ordinances and resolutions) 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, RA9262, and other related laws for the protection of women and children, and of the LCAT and VAWC national plans of action. Submit reports to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for consolidation and monitoring and shall furnish a copy to the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC) In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the LCAT-VAWC shall implement the programs and activities as stated in the National Plan of Action. Perform such other functions as may be deemed related, appropriate, and necessary consistent to the national mandate against trafficking in persons and violence against women and their children. SECTION 5. Formulation of Annual Work and Financial Plan and Submission of Accomplishment Reports. -- The Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) shall be responsible for the formulation of their Annual Work and Financial Plan, which shall incorporate the following activities, to wit: Maintain database on cases of Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC); Undertake information, education, and advocacy campaign against Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC); Conduct capacity-building programs for all stakeholders involved in handling Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) cases; Provide services to trafficked persons and VAWC victim-survivors including services that respond to their special needs, interests, and concerns; Create and establish systems on surveillance, investigation, and rescue to ensure effective and efficient coordination; and Institute policies and programs to protect women and children who are victims of trafficking and violence. The Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) Annual Work and Financial Plan (AWFP) shall be submitted to the Local Government of Pagadian for the inclusion in the Local Development Investment Program/ Annual Investment Program to ensure its funding. SECTION 6. Submission of Accomplishment Report. -- The Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) is required to submit an Accomplishment Report, on semestral basis every 5th day of January and July of the following year, to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for consolidation and monitoring and shall furnish a copy to the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC). SECTION 7. Meetings. -- The Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) shall conduct regular quarterly meetings. Special meetings may also be conducted when necessary. The agenda of such meetings shall include, but not limited to, the developments and implementation of polices, programs, projects, activities (PPPAs) relative to the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of women's and children's rights specially those who are victim-survivors of Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). SECTION 8. Appropriations. -- To effectively implement this Ordinance, an initial amount of Two Hundred Thousand (P200,000.00) Pesos is hereby appropriated which shall be included in the Annual Investment Program. SECTION 9. Separability Clause. -- Any provision that may be declared by any competent court to be invalid shall not affect the rest of the provisions not so declared illegal. SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. -- Any and all existing ordinances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. -- This Ordinance shall take effect immediate upon approval and after posting in two (2) conspicuous places in the city. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) during its 61st Regular Session on 25 November 2020 conducted via Video Conferencing.