Section 21Sec./Art. 21

Section 20 of Republic Act No. 9208 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 20. Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. There is hereby established an Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, to be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Justice as Chairperson and the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as Co-Chairperson and shall have the following as members:

"(a) Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs;

"(b) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment;

"(c) Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government;

"(d) Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration;

"(e) Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration;

"(f) Chief, Philippine National Police;

"(g) Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Women;

"(h) Chairperson, Commission on Filipinos Overseas;

"(i) Executive Director, Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes; and

"(j) Three (3) representatives from NGOs, who shall include one (1) representative each from among the sectors representing women, overseas Filipinos, and children, with a proven record of involvement in the prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons. These representatives shall be nominated by the government agency representatives of the Council, for appointment by the President for a term of three (3) years.

"The members of the Council may designate their permanent representatives who shall have a rank not lower than an assistant secretary or its equivalent to meetings, and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations."