Republic Act No.

9208 May 26, 2003 (b) Child - refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or one who is over
eighteen (18) but is unable to fully take care of or protect himself/herself from
AN ACT TO INSTITUTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or
ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESTABLISHING THE NECESSARY mental disability or condition.
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF
TRAFFICKED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND FOR (c) Prostitution - refers to any act, transaction, scheme or design involving the use
OTHER of a person by another, for sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct in exchange for
money, profit or any other consideration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled: (d) Forced Labor and Slavery - refer to the extraction of work or services from any
person by means of enticement, violence, intimidation or threat, use of force or
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of coercion, including deprivation of freedom, abuse of authority or moral
2003". ascendancy, debt-bondage or deception.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared that the State values the dignity of (e) Sex Tourism - refers to a program organized by travel and tourism-related
every human person and guarantees the respect of individual rights. In pursuit of this policy, establishments and individuals which consists of tourism packages or activities,
the State shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures and development of utilizing and offering escort and sexual services as enticement for tourists. This
programs that will promote human dignity, protect the people from any threat of violence includes sexual services and practices offered during rest and recreation periods
and exploitation, eliminate trafficking in persons, and mitigate pressures for involuntary for members of the military.
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 (f) Sexual Exploitation - refers to participation by a person in prostitution or the
society. production of pornographic materials as a result of being subjected to a threat,
deception, coercion, abduction, force, abuse of authority, debt bondage, fraud or
It shall be a State policy to recognize the equal rights and inherent human dignity of women through abuse of a victim's vulnerability.
and men as enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, United Nations Convention on the Protection (g) Debt Bondage - refers to the pledging by the debtor of his/her personal services
of Migrant Workers and their Families. United Nations Convention Against Transnational or labor or those of a person under his/her control as security or payment for a
Organized Crime Including its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in debt, when the length and nature of services is not clearly defined or when the
Persons, Especially Women and Children and all other relevant and universally accepted value of the services as reasonably assessed is not applied toward the liquidation
human rights instruments and other international conventions to which the Philippines is a of the debt.
signatory.
(h) Pornography - refers to any representation, through publication, exhibition,
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: cinematography, indecent shows, information technology, or by whatever means,
of a person engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any
(a) Trafficking in Persons - refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or representation of the sexual parts of a person for primarily sexual purposes.
harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim's consent or knowledge,
within or across national borders by means of threat or use of force, or other forms (i) Council - shall mean the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking created under
of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking Section 20 of this Act.
advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments
or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person Section 4. Acts of Trafficking in Persons. - It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or
for the purpose of exploitation which includes at a minimum, the exploitation or the juridical, to commit any of the following acts:
prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services,
slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.
(a) To recruit, transport, transfer; harbor, provide, or receive a person by any
means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas
The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of prostitution,
purpose of exploitation shall also be considered as "trafficking in persons" even if it pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or
does not involve any of the means set forth in the preceding paragraph. debt bondage;
 (b) To introduce or match for money, profit, or material, economic or other agencies that are mandated to provide pre-departure registration and services for
consideration, any person or, as provided for under Republic Act No. 6955, any departing persons for the purpose of promoting trafficking in persons;
Filipino woman to a foreign national, for marriage for the purpose of acquiring,
buying, offering, selling or trading him/her to engage in prostitution, pornography, (e) To facilitate, assist or help in the exit and entry of persons from/to the country at
sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage; international and local airports, territorial boundaries and seaports who are in
possession of unissued, tampered or fraudulent travel documents for the purpose
(c) To offer or contract marriage, real or simulated, for the purpose of acquiring, of promoting trafficking in persons;
buying, offering, selling, or trading them to engage in prostitution, pornography,
sexual exploitation, forced labor or slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage; (f) To confiscate, conceal, or destroy the passport, travel documents, or personal
documents or belongings of trafficked persons in furtherance of trafficking or to
(d) To undertake or organize tours and travel plans consisting of tourism packages prevent them from leaving the country or seeking redress from the government or
or activities for the purpose of utilizing and offering persons for prostitution, appropriate agencies; and
pornography or sexual exploitation;
(g) To knowingly benefit from, financial or otherwise, or make use of, the labor or
(e) To maintain or hire a person to engage in prostitution or pornography; services of a person held to a condition of involuntary servitude, forced labor, or
slavery.
(f) To adopt or facilitate the adoption of persons for the purpose of prostitution,
pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or Section 6. Qualified Trafficking in Persons. - The following are considered as qualified
debt bondage; trafficking:

(g) To recruit, hire, adopt, transport or abduct a person, by means of threat or use (a) When the trafficked person is a child;
of force, fraud, deceit, violence, coercion, or intimidation for the purpose of removal
or sale of organs of said person; and (b) When the adoption is effected through Republic Act No. 8043, otherwise known
as the "Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995" and said adoption is for the purpose of
(h) To recruit, transport or adopt a child to engage in armed activities in the prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary
Philippines or abroad. servitude or debt bondage;

Section 5. Acts that Promote Trafficking in Persons. - The following acts which promote or (c) When the crime is committed by a syndicate, or in large scale. Trafficking is
facilitate trafficking in persons, shall be unlawful: deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more
persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in
(a) To knowingly lease or sublease, use or allow to be used any house, building or large scale if committed against three (3) or more persons, individually or as a
establishment for the purpose of promoting trafficking in persons; group;

(b) To produce, print and issue or distribute unissued, tampered or fake counseling (d) When the offender is an ascendant, parent, sibling, guardian or a person who
certificates, registration stickers and certificates of any government agency which exercises authority over the trafficked person or when the offense is committed by
issues these certificates and stickers as proof of compliance with government a public officer or employee;
regulatory and pre-departure requirements for the purpose of promoting trafficking
in persons; (e) When the trafficked person is recruited to engage in prostitution with any
member of the military or law enforcement agencies;
(c) To advertise, publish, print, broadcast or distribute, or cause the advertisement,
publication, printing, broadcasting or distribution by any means, including the use (f) When the offender is a member of the military or law enforcement agencies; and
of information technology and the internet, of any brochure, flyer, or any
propaganda material that promotes trafficking in persons; (g) When by reason or on occasion of the act of trafficking in persons, the offended
party dies, becomes insane, suffers mutilation or is afflicted with Human
(d) To assist in the conduct of misrepresentation or fraud for purposes of facilitating Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
the acquisition of clearances and necessary exit documents from government (AIDS).
Section 6. Confidentiality. - At any stage of the investigation, prosecution and trial of an (e) If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association, club, establishment or
offense under this Act, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, court personnel and any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, president,
medical practitioners, as well as parties to the case, shall recognize the right to privacy of partner, manager, and/or any responsible officer who participated in the
the trafficked person and the accused. Towards this end, law enforcement officers, commission of the crime or who shall have knowingly permitted or failed to prevent
prosecutors and judges to whom the complaint has been referred may, whenever necessary its commission;
to ensure a fair and impartial proceeding, and after considering all circumstances for the
best interest of the parties, order a closed-door investigation, prosecution or trial. The name (f) The registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and
and personal circumstances of the trafficked person or of the accused, or any other license to operate of the erring agency, corporation, association, religious group,
information tending to establish their identities and such circumstances or information shall tour or travel agent, club or establishment, or any place of entertainment shall be
not be disclosed to the public. cancelled and revoked permanently. The owner, president, partner or manager
thereof shall not be allowed to operate similar establishments in a different name;
In cases when prosecution or trial is conducted behind closed-doors, it shall be unlawful for
any editor, publisher, and reporter or columnist in case of printed materials, announcer or (g) If the offender is a foreigner, he shall be immediately deported after serving his
producer in case of television and radio, producer and director of a film in case of the movie sentence and be barred permanently from entering the country;
industry, or any person utilizing tri-media facilities or information technology to cause
publicity of any case of trafficking in persons.
(h) Any employee or official of government agencies who shall issue or approve
the issuance of travel exit clearances, passports, registration certificates,
Section 8. Prosecution of Cases. - Any person who has personal knowledge of the counseling certificates, marriage license, and other similar documents to persons,
commission of any offense under this Act, the trafficked person, the parents, spouse, whether juridical or natural, recruitment agencies, establishments or other
siblings, children or legal guardian may file a complaint for trafficking. individuals or groups, who fail to observe the prescribed procedures and the
requirement as provided for by laws, rules and regulations, shall be held
Section 9. Venue. - A criminal action arising from violation of this Act shall be filed where administratively liable, without prejudice to criminal liability under this Act. The
the offense was committed, or where any of its elements occurred, or where the trafficked concerned government official or employee shall, upon conviction, be dismissed
person actually resides at the time of the commission of the offense: Provided, That the from the service and be barred permanently to hold public office. His/her retirement
court where the criminal action is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction to the exclusion of other and other benefits shall likewise be forfeited; and
courts.
(i) Conviction by final judgment of the adopter for any offense under this Act shall
Section 10. Penalties and Sanctions. - The following penalties and sanctions are hereby result in the immediate rescission of the decree of adoption.
established for the offenses enumerated in this Act:
Section 11. Use of Trafficked Persons. - Any person who buys or engages the services of
(a) Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section 4 trafficked persons for prostitution shall be penalized as follows:
shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and a fine of not less
than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (a) First offense - six (6) months of community service as may be determined by
(P2,000,000.00); the court and a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00); and

(b) Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section 5 (b) Second and subsequent offenses - imprisonment of one (1) year and a fine of
shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a fine of not less One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One million
pesos (P1,000,000.00);
Section 12. Prescriptive Period. - Trafficking cases under this Act shall prescribe in ten (10)
years: Provided, however, That trafficking cases committed by a syndicate or in a large
(c) Any person found guilty of qualified trafficking under Section 6 shall suffer the scale as defined under Section 6 shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.
penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Two million pesos
(P2,000,000.00) but not more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00);
The prescriptive period shall commence to run from the day on which the trafficked person
is delivered or released from the conditions of bondage and shall be interrupted by the filing
(d) Any person who violates Section 7 hereof shall suffer the penalty of of the complaint or information and shall commence to run again when such proceedings
imprisonment of six (6) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand terminate without the accused being convicted or acquitted or are unjustifiably stopped for
pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00); any reason not imputable to the accused.
Section 13. Exemption from Filing Fees. - When the trafficked person institutes a separate receiving country, and explore means to further enhance its assistance in
civil action for the recovery of civil damages, he/she shall be exempt from the payment of eliminating trafficking activities through closer networking with government
filing fees. agencies in the country and overseas, particularly in the formulation of policies and
implementation of relevant programs.
Section 14. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds and Instruments Derived from
Trafficking in Persons. - In addition to the penalty imposed for the violation of this Act, the The DFA shall take necessary measures for the efficient implementation of the
court shall order the confiscation and forfeiture, in favor of the government, of all the Machine Readable Passports to protect the integrity of Philippine passports, visas
proceeds and properties derived from the commission of the crime, unless they are the and other travel documents to reduce the incidence of trafficking through the use of
property of a third person not liable for the unlawful act; Provided, however, That all awards fraudulent identification documents.
for damages shall be taken from the personal and separate properties of the
offender; Provided, further, That if such properties are insufficient, the balance shall be It shall establish and implement a pre-marriage, on-site and pre-departure
taken from the confiscated and forfeited properties. counseling program on intermarriages.

When the proceeds, properties and instruments of the offense have been destroyed, (b) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - shall implement
diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any act or omission, directly or rehabilitative and protective programs for trafficked persons. It shall provide
indirectly, of the offender, or it has been concealed, removed, converted or transferred to counseling and temporary shelter to trafficked persons and develop a system for
prevent the same from being found or to avoid forfeiture or confiscation, the offender shall accreditation among NGOs for purposes of establishing centers and programs for
be ordered to pay the amount equal to the value of the proceeds, property or instruments of intervention in various levels of the community.
the offense.
(c) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - shall ensure the strict
Section 15. Trust Fund. - All fines imposed under this Act and the proceeds and properties implementation and compliance with the rules and guidelines relative to the
forfeited and confiscated pursuant to Section 14 hereof shall accrue to a Trust Fund to be employment of persons locally and overseas. It shall likewise monitor, document
administered and managed by the Council to be used exclusively for programs that will and report cases of trafficking in persons involving employers and labor recruiters.
prevent acts of trafficking and protect, rehabilitate, reintegrate trafficked persons into the
mainstream of society. Such programs shall include, but not limited to, the following:
(d) Department of Justice (DOJ) - shall ensure the prosecution of persons accused
of trafficking and designate and train special prosecutors who shall handle and
(a) Provision for mandatory services set forth in Section 23 of this Act; 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
(b) Sponsorship of a national research program on trafficking and establishment of the Philippines (IBP) and other NGOs and volunteer groups.
a data collection system for monitoring and evaluation purposes;
(e) National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) - shall actively
(c) Provision of necessary technical and material support services to appropriate participate and coordinate in the formulation and monitoring of policies addressing
government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs); the issue of trafficking in persons in coordination with relevant government
agencies. It shall likewise advocate for the inclusion of the issue of trafficking in
(d) Sponsorship of conferences and seminars to provide venue for consensus persons in both its local and international advocacy for women's issues.
building amongst the public, the academe, government, NGOs and international
organizations; and (f) Bureau of Immigration (BI) - shall strictly administer and enforce immigration
and alien administration laws. It shall adopt measures for the apprehension of
(e) Promotion of information and education campaign on trafficking. suspected traffickers both at the place of arrival and departure and shall ensure
compliance by the Filipino fiancés/fiancées and spouses of foreign nationals with
the guidance and counseling requirement as provided for in this Act.
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 (g) Philippine National Police (PNP) - shall be the primary law enforcement agency
programs; to undertake surveillance, investigation and arrest of individuals or persons
suspected to be engaged in trafficking. It shall closely coordinate with various law
enforcement agencies to secure concerted efforts for effective investigation and
(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
 apprehension of suspected traffickers. It shall also establish a system to receive Justice as Chairperson and the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and
complaints and calls to assist trafficked persons and conduct rescue operations. Development as Co-Chairperson and shall have the following as members:

(h) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - shall implement an (a) Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs;
effective pre-employment orientation seminars and pre-departure counseling
programs to applicants for overseas employment. It shall likewise formulate a (b) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment;
system of providing free legal assistance to trafficked persons.
(c) Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration;
(i) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - shall institute a
systematic information and prevention campaign and likewise maintain a databank
for the effective monitoring, documentation and prosecution of cases on trafficking (d) Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration;
in persons.
(e) Director-General, Philippine National Police;
(j) Local government units (LGUs) - shall monitor and document cases of trafficking
in persons in their areas of jurisdiction, effect the cancellation of licenses of (f) Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women; and
establishments which violate the provisions of this Act and ensure effective
prosecution of such cases. They shall also undertake an information campaign (g) Three (3) representatives from NGOs, who shall be composed of one (1)
against trafficking in persons through the establishment of the Migrants Advisory representative each from among the sectors representing women, overseas
and Information Network (MAIN) desks in municipalities or provinces in Filipino workers (OFWs) and children, with a proven record of involvement in the
coordination with DILG, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Commission on prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons. These representatives shall
Filipinos Overseas (CFO), NGOs and other concerned agencies. They shall be nominated by the government agency representatives of the Council, for
encourage and support community based initiatives which address the trafficking in appointment by the President for a term of three (3) years.
persons.

The members of the Council may designate their permanent representatives who
In implementing this Act, the agencies concerned may seek and enlist the shall have a rank not lower than an assistant secretary or its equivalent to
assistance of NGOs, people's organizations (Pos), civic organizations and other meetings, and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in
volunteer groups. accordance with existing budget and accounting, rules and regulations.

Section 17. Legal Protection to Trafficked Persons. - Trafficked persons shall be recognized Section 21. Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the following powers and
as victims of the act or acts of trafficking and as such shall not be penalized for crimes functions:
directly related to the acts of trafficking enumerated in this Act or in obedience to the order
made by the trafficker in relation thereto. In this regard, the consent of a trafficked person to
the intended exploitation set forth in this Act shall be irrelevant. (a) Formulate a comprehensive and integrated program to prevent and suppress
the trafficking in persons;
Section 18. Preferential Entitlement Under the Witness Protection Program. - Any provision
of Republic Act No. 6981 to the contrary notwithstanding, any trafficked person shall be (b) Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective
entitled to the witness protection program provided therein. implementation of this Act;

Section 19. Trafficked Persons Who are Foreign Nationals. - Subject to the guidelines (c) Monitor and oversee the strict implementation of this Act;
issued by the Council, trafficked persons in the Philippines who are nationals of a foreign
country shall also be entitled to appropriate protection, assistance and services available to (d) Coordinate the programs and projects of the various member agencies to
trafficked persons under this Act: Provided, That they shall be permitted continued presence effectively address the issues and problems attendant to trafficking in persons;
in the Philippines for a length of time prescribed by the Council as necessary to effect the
prosecution of offenders.
(e) Coordinate the conduct of massive information dissemination and campaign on
the existence of the law and the various issues and problems attendant to
Section 20. Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. - There is hereby established an Inter- trafficking through the LGUs, concerned agencies, and NGOs;
Agency Council Against Trafficking, to be composed of the Secretary of the Department of
 (f) Direct other agencies to immediately respond to the problems brought to their Section 23. Mandatory Services to Trafficked Persons. - To ensure recovery, rehabilitation
attention and report to the Council on action taken; and reintegration into the mainstream of society, concerned government agencies shall
make available the following services to trafficked persons:
(g) Assist in filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions or
establishments that violate the provisions of this Act; (a) Emergency shelter or appropriate housing;

(h) Formulate a program for the reintegration of trafficked persons in cooperation (b) Counseling;
with DOLE, DSWD, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), LGUs and NGOs; (c) Free legal services which shall include information about the victims' rights and
the procedure for filing complaints, claiming compensation and such other legal
(i) Secure from any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the remedies available to them, in a language understood by the trafficked person;
government or from NGOs and other civic organizations such assistance as may
be needed to effectively implement this Act; (d) Medical or psychological services;

(j) Complement the shared government information system for migration (e) Livelihood and skills training; and
established under Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the "Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995" with data on cases of trafficking in
persons, and ensure that the proper agencies conduct a continuing research and (f) Educational assistance to a trafficked child.
study on the patterns and scheme of trafficking in persons which shall form the
basis for policy formulation and program direction; Sustained supervision and follow through mechanism that will track the progress of
recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of the trafficked persons shall be adopted and
(k) Develop the mechanism to ensure the timely, coordinated, and effective carried out.
response to cases of trafficking in persons;
Section 24. Other Services for Trafficked Persons. -
(l) Recommend measures to enhance cooperative efforts and mutual assistance
among foreign countries through bilateral and/or multilateral arrangements to (a) Legal Assistance. - Trafficked persons shall be considered under the category
prevent and suppress international trafficking in persons; "Overseas Filipino in Distress" and may avail of the legal assistance created by
Republic Act No. 8042, subject to the guidelines as provided by law.
(m) Coordinate with the Department of Transportation and Communications
(DOTC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other NGOs in monitoring (b) Overseas Filipino Resource Centers. - The services available to overseas
the promotion of advertisement of trafficking in the internet; Filipinos as provided for by Republic Act No. 8042 shall also be extended to
trafficked persons regardless of their immigration status in the host country.
(n) Adopt measures and policies to protect the rights and needs of trafficked
persons who are foreign nationals in the Philippines; (c) The Country Team Approach. - The country team approach under Executive
Order No. 74 of 1993, shall be the operational scheme under which Philippine
(o) Initiate training programs in identifying and providing the necessary intervention embassies abroad shall provide protection to trafficked persons insofar as the
or assistance to trafficked persons; and promotion of their welfare, dignity and fundamental rights are concerned.

(p) Exercise all the powers and perform such other functions necessary to attain Section 25. Repatriation of Trafficked Persons. - The DFA, in coordination with DOLE and
the purposes and objectives of this Act. other appropriate agencies, shall have the primary responsibility for the repatriation of
trafficked persons, regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented.
Section 22. Secretariat to the Council. - The Department of Justice shall establish the
necessary Secretariat for the Council. If, however, the repatriation of the trafficked persons shall expose the victims to greater
risks, the DFA shall make representation with the host government for the extension of
appropriate residency permits and protection, as may be legally permissible in the host
country.
Section 26. Extradition. - The DOJ, in consultation with DFA, shall endeavor to include
offenses of trafficking in persons among extraditable offenses.

Section 27. Reporting Requirements. - The Council shall submit to the President of the
Philippines and to Congress an annual report of the policies, programs and activities relative
to the implementation of this Act.

Section 28. Funding. - The heads of the departments and agencies concerned shall
immediately include in their programs and issue such rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Section 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council shall promulgate the
necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act.

Section 30. Non-restriction of Freedom of Speech and of Association, Religion and the
Right to Travel. - Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as a restriction of the freedom of
speech and of association, religion and the right to travel for purposes not contrary to law as
guaranteed by the Constitution.

Section 31. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is
held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected
thereby.

Section 32. Repealing clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules
and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly: Provided, That this Act shall not in any way amend or
repeal the provision of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the "Special Protection
of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act".