Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian appeals to the Committee on Finance to increase the budget of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) during budget deliberations on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian appealed on Tuesday for a P71 million increase in the 2024 budget of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) — from the current P76 million to P147 million.
“My fear is these criminal syndicates will transition from trafficking foreign individuals to trafficking our compatriots,” Gatchalian said, speaking partly in Filipino.
“In the National Expenditure Program, they [IACAT] were allocated P76 million. However, it was reduced in the General Appropriations Bill and also the committee report by P10 million,” he added.
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IACAT is an attached agency of the DOJ mandated by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
In his manifestation, Gatchalian said crimes such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children are real.
According to him, the proposed budget hike would help the agency arrest criminals, rescue victims, and curb crimes.
Sen. Sonny Angara, the sponsor of the DOJ’s budget, said the chamber could look into this proposed increase “at the proper time.”
“Because for this year we increased their budget by P40 million. So at the proper time, we can do the same. Just to shorten the discussion,” Angara said.