DFA Joins Sports Festival 2025 to Rally Country-Team Approach Against Human Trafficking
Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo Jose A. de Vega with the DFA contingents to the 2025 IACAT Sports Festival. (Photo courtesy: DFA-OPD James Ryan Artiaga)
MANILA 14 July 2025 – Led by Migration Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega and Assistant Secretary Robert O. Ferrer, Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) took part in the 2025 Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Sports Festival, which was held from 1 to 4 July 2025 at the Rizal memorial Sports Complex in Manila. The event was held to kick off the year’s National Anti-Trafficking in Awareness Month with the theme, “Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang Human Trafficking Ngayon” (One Nation, One Action: End Human Trafficking Now).
The Department provided extensive support to the celebration with a large contingent of 25 officials and personnel from the various DFA offices, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), and the DFA Multi-purpose Cooperative (DFAMPC). Participation in the sports festival not only showcased great athleticism but also team spirit, reflecting a strong commitment to working closely with IACAT and various member government agencies on ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking under the one-country, one-team approach.
The Department’s teams in volleyball and bowling emerged as champions, while basketball and volleyball players were recognized as among the best I their sports, earning spots in the “Mythical Five.” The Department’s players in the Pentathlon: Palarong Pinoy won the bronze. The complete list of winners and participating agencies in the IACAT Sports Festival is available on the official IACAT Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/InterAgencyCouncilAgainstTrafficking.
Other IACAT members are the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the lead agency and chair, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as co-chair, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other organizations focusing on child welfare, women’s rights, and anti-money laundering. END
Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo Jose A. de Vega with the DFA contingents to the 2025 IACAT Sports Festival. (Photo courtesy of IACAT)
Assistant Secretary for Migration Affairs Robert O. Ferrer, Jr. (center) in a ceremonial basketball tip-off during the opening of the IACAT Sports Festival 2025. (Photo courtesy of IACAT)