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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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t@H1re of tllevi-H'Tld~l'ij 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
MAR -3 P2 :44 
SEN~~:H 
S, No. __ ---= 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 provides:-
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
prOl)J.ote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
Providing services to runaway, homeless, and ekploited youth is extremely challenging 
due to the need for services in a great number of diverse, yet overlapping, areas such as 
education, housing, employment, community support, family support and reunification, health 
care, and counseling. Research has shown that runaway, homeless, and exploited youth are at 
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great risk for physical abuse, sexual exploitation, menta,! health disabilities, chemical or alcohol 
dependency, and death. The cost of youth homelessness'to the state is also considerable. Youth 
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who experience homelessness are disproportionately likely to be arrested and incarcerated as 
adults. 
While the Department of Social Welfare and Development is the state agency that 
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administers programs related to youth homelessness and exploitation, it does so without a strong 
mandate or clear vision as to how its activities and funding will significantly impact youth 
homelessness. It is also limited by its budget. The is~ues that face runaway, homeless, and 
exploited youth are so diverse, there is a great need for cooperation among private non-profit 
entities and public entities serving these youth to break down barriers and provide more 
seamless, collaborative, and effective services. 
In the public sector, there is an additional need for enhanced cooperation among the 
concerned deprutments and even the judiciary to more fully serve homeless and exploited youth. 
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To address this serious issue, it is imperative that the state make an explicit commitment to 
ending youth homelessness and exploitation. It must ascertain the extent of the problem, our 
capacity to solve it, the cost of ending youth homelessness, and potential sources of necessary 
revenue. 
This bill requires the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide 
information, coordination, and support services to publi'C and private entities serving runaway, 
homeless, and exploited youth. The bill also requires the agency to develop a state-wide plan for 
runaway, homeless, and exploited youth, as specified, mtd to present this plan to Congress by I 
January 2013. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'. 
SENATE 
S.No. 2731 
.~('mdr 
I"a". of Ii?B:f,'rr(l.r~ 
'11 
MAR -3 P2 :44 
HECE!V(W l'$¥: 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT RUNA WAY, HOMELESS AND EXPLOITED YOUTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Runaway, Homeless, and 
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Exploited Youth Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and protect 
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the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth recognizing their 
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vital role in nation-building. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(a) 
"Exploited youth" means an individual unner 18 years of age who is trafficked or 
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prostituted, involved in pornography or stripping, a victim of rape or incest, or engaged in 
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survival sex, which is the exchange of sex for money pr other consideration, such as food or 
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shelter, in order to ensure his or her survival. 
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(b) 
"Homeless youth" means an individual under 18 years of age who is unable to 
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live in a safe environment with a relative and lacks safe alternative living arrangements, or an 
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individual under 18 years of age who is without shelter. 
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(c) 
"Runaway youth" means an individual under 18 years of age who leaves his or 
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her home or a place of legal residence without the permission of a parent or legal guardian. 
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(d) 
"Department" shall refer to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
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SECTION 4. Department Coordination. - The 'Department shall provide information, 
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coordination, and support services to public and private entities serving runaway, homeless, and 
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exploited youth. 
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SECTION 5. National Plan. - The Department shall develop a national plan for runaway, 
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homeless, and exploited youth, and shall present this plan to the Congress by 1 January 2013. In 
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developing this plan, the department shall do all of the following: 
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(a) 
Determine the national demand for shelter, housing, and supportive services for 
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runaway, homeless and exploited youth. 
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(b) 
Identify data and outcome measures from which to evaluate public investment in 
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runaway, homeless, and exploited youth services. 
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(c) 
Propose a consistent revenue stream from the local and national government to 
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meet the demand for shelter, housing, and services for these youth. 
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(d) 
Specify the role of the child welfare system in preventing and addressing 
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homelessness for minors experiencing abuse and neglect: . 
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(e) 
Specify the role of law enforcement in responding to runaway youth. 
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SECTION 6. Inclusion a/Stakeholders. - When developing the national plan pursuant to 
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this Act, the Department shall utilize an open plauning process that engages stakeholders, 
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including runaway, homeless, and exploited youth, parents, homeless youth service providers, 
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advocates, and researchers, and representatives of interested government agencies. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule ot regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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