NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. No. 698
Senate
of tijc g^i'cvftarp
*22 JUL18 A10:16
RECEIVED BY:.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF STREET CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING THE 
BARANGAY COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (BCPC) AND 
ESTABLISHING AN INCENTIVES SYSTEM FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF STREET CHILDREN, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The concern about the proliferation of street children in the country has been 
a subject of various studies and policy proposals. While the government authorities 
and international organizations including UNICEF Philippines stated that there is no 
definite data on the number of street children, estimates range from 250,000 to one 
(1) million. Among the factors that sent them to streets are poverty, dismal family 
structure, abuse, migration, need to work or peer influence. And because of their 
exposure to various environments outside their homes, they become vulnerable 
which leads to their exploitation. Most of them are even engaged in petty crimes 
such as pick pocketing while others are being used for illegal activities such as illegal 
drugs vending and prostitution.
The Philippines is a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights 
of the Child which seeks to protect the welfare of children, including those who are 
in the streets and homeless. Apart from this, various laws were enacted for their 
protections and this includes Republic Act 7160 or the "Local Government Code of 
1991", Republic Act 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,


Exploitation and Discrimination Act" Republic Act 4373 or "An Act to Regulate the 
Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines 
and for Other Purposes" and Republic Act 9344 or the "Juvenile Justice and Welfare 
Act of 2006" The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also 
issued several policies to operationalize the projects for street dwellers and program 
interventions that promote and safeguard the rights of the street children.
Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the Child and Youth Welfare 
Code mandated the establishment of Barangay Councils for the Protection of 
Children (BCPC) which are mandated, among others, to protect and assist 
abandoned or maltreated children and dependents.
The proposed "'Street Children Welfare Act' seeks to strengthen BCPC to 
enable it to provide adequate nutrition, clothing and shelter, as well as social, health 
and educational services to street children. Under the bill, BCPC are tasked to 
coordinate with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the DSWD in 
drawing and Implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare, 
particularly on issues concerning street children. They shall also monitor the 
existence of children on the street In their respective communities.
This measure was filed by Senator Ralph G. Recto in the 18th Congress.
In this light, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RAMOr^/^NG REVILLA, 3R.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OFTf4E PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
698
^0^(®{fi£p of tl;c ^H-a-ctarp
*22 JUL18 A10:16
RECEIVED BY:
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF STREET CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING THE 
BARANGAY COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (BCPC) AND 
ESTABLISHING AN INCENTIVES SYSTEM FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF STREET CHILDREN, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Street Children Welfare
Act.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article XV of the Constitution provides that the 
State shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and 
nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation 
and other conditions prejudicial to their development.
It is also the declared policy of the State to eliminate the presence of street 
children in its cities and municipalities by promoting their welfare through 
strengthened programs aimed at protecting their rights at the community level and by 
encouraging the private sector in aiding government efforts to provide relief for street 
children who are otherwise deprived of opportunities for grow:h and development. 
The State snail also ensure that street children are provided with adequate 
nutrition, clothing and shelter as well as with social and health services and 
educational opportunities, including vocational and life-skills training. In order to


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support their full development and provide them with adequate protection and
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assistance.
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The State shall also provide street children who are victims of physical, sexual
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and substance abuse with adequate rehabilitation and social reintegration services and
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promote reunification with their families when feasible.
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Sec. 3. Definition and Classification of Street Children. - The term street 
1 children refers to children under the age of eighteen (18) years who spend a large
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percentage of their time living, working and playing on the street. They are further
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classified into four (4) groups:
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(a) Children on the street- Children who spend a majority of their time on
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the street for livelihopd but return home to their families on a regular
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basis;
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(b) Children of the street- Children who also spend a majority of their time
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living, playing and working on the street, but seldom return to their
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families in communities or not at all. They generally do not go to school
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and decide to live on the streets because of problems at home that
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include extreme poverty, violence and substance abuse;
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(c) Abandoned and neglected children - Children who are on the streets
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because they have no families; have been abandoned or neglected by
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their families; or have been displaced from their families. They maintain
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no connection to their families and are normally out of school; and,
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(d) Children of street families - Children who live with their families on the
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street. Their families have often been homeless for a long period of time
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and earn their livelihocjd on the streets.
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Sec. 4. Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). - The BCPC
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created under Presidential Decree (PD) 603 shall have the following members, who
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shall be chosen from among the responsible members of the community:
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(a) Punong Barangay;
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(b) Barangay Kagawad (Chairperson on Women and Family);
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(c) Barangay Nutrition Scholar;
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(d) Barangay Day Care Worker;
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(e) Barangay Health Nurse / Midwife;


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(f) Barangay Health Worker;
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(g) Department of Education Principal / Teacher-In-Charge;
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(h) Chief Ta nod;
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(i) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson;
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0) Parents-Teachers Association 
(PTA) President or authorized
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representative; and,
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(k)Two (2) representatives from a Non-Government Organization (NGO)
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concerned with the welfare of children and youth.
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Upon assumption to office, the Punong Barangay is hereby mandated to
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convene the BCPC. In its first meeting, the Punong Barangay shall call for an election
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of the BCPC chairperson from among its members.
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Sec. 5. Roles and Functions of the BCPC. - In addition to its functions under
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PD 604, the BCPC shall perform the following functions consistent with the declared
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policies of this Act:
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(a) Coordinate with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in drawing and
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implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare,
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particularly on issues concerning street children;
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(b) Monitor the existence of children on the street in their respective
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communities;
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(c) Prepare a report on the number of street children In its respective area
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of responsibility, discussing every case in full detail, including a brief
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history of how the child had been forced to spend most of the child's
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time on the streets. The said report shall be submitted to the CWC and
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the DSWD, including the local Social Welfare Department of its
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respective city or municipality;
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(d) Prepare an Intervention plan for each of the cases, which should be
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specifically based on the peculiarity of the circumstances of each child;
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and
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(e) Coordinate with the local government unit and non-government
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organizations promoting the welfare of street children in addressing the
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problem of street children in each barangay.


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Sec. 6. Incentives. - In order to encourage private sector participation, all
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expenses incurred by any private individual, corporation or a non-governmental
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organization, in the establishment of facilities or in the performance of services,
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including donations, which are consistent with the declared policies of this Act, shall
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be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income as defined under Section
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32, Chapter VI, Title II of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
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Sec. 7. Applicability of Existing Laws. -
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(a) If the child is a victim of abuse, physical violence, neglect, sexual abuse
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and similar circumstances, provisions of Republic Act No. 9262 or the
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"Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004" and
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Republic Act No. 7^20 or the "Special Protection of Children Against
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Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act", as amended, shall apply
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insofar as it Is applicable.
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(b)For children in conflict with the law. Republic Act No. 9344 or the
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"Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006" shall apply.
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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government
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(DILG), the DSWD and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall issue the necessary
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rules and reguiatioiis to carry out tne effective implementation of this Act which shall
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include the creation of a system of accreditation of private sector entitles engaged in
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the promotion of the welfare of street children.
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Sec. 9. 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 or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of Instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette er in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,