Section 22Sec./Art. 22

Section 22 of Republic Act No. 9208 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 22. Secretariat to the Council. The Department of Justice shall establish the necessary Secretariat for the Council.

"The secretariat shall provide support for the functions and projects of the Council. The secretariat shall be headed by an executive director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the DOJ upon the recommendation of the Council. The executive director must have adequate knowledge on, training and experience in the phenomenon of and issues involved in trafficking in persons and in the field of law, law enforcement, social work, criminology, or psychology.

"The executive director shall be under the supervision of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking through its Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, and shall perform the following functions:

"(a) Act as secretary of the Council and administrative officer of its secretariat;

"(b) Advise and assist the Chairperson in formulating and implementing the objectives, policies, plans and programs of the Council, including those involving mobilization of government offices represented in the Council as well as other relevant government offices, task forces, and mechanisms;

"(c) Serve as principal assistant to the Chairperson in the overall supervision of council administrative business;

"(d) Oversee all council operational activities;

"(e) Ensure an effective and efficient performance of council functions and prompt implementation of council objectives, policies, plans and programs;

"(f) Propose effective allocations of resources for implementing council objectives, policies, plans and programs;

"(g) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress of council objectives, policies, plans and programs;

"(h) Prepare annual reports of all council activities; and

"(i) Perform other duties as the Council may assign."