Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives |

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

5787

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN of Anak Mindanao
(AMIN) Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Each year the Philippines experience several calamities. Ten to twenty typhoons
strike our country every year. Typhoon Yolanda which had been considered as one of
the strongest typhoons worldwide and the deadliest ever recorded in our history,
killed 6300 people, left thousands homeless and brought severe damage to
infrastructures, agriculture and livelihood.

Earlier the Zamboanga siege happened, causing the displacement of more than
100,000 people and death of several civilians, and even closure of the Zamboanga City
International Airport. A number of schools, hospitals, churches and the Zamboanga
City Grandstand served as temporary shelters.

In all Instances of displacement, experiences documented in evacuation sites
show alarming cases of sex and gender-based violence and other forums of violence
and abuse committed against women, young girls and children.

With the passage of this bill, we seek to institutionalize the mandatory
establishment Women-Child Friendly Space (WCFS) in all evacuation centers in the
country to respond to the needs of women, young girls and children who are
temporarily sheltered thereat.


It is therefore our great desire to have this bill passed into law. As such, we
earnestly seek support for the approval of this bill.

REP. SITTI fin bile ssAAMAN

Anak-Mindanao (AMIN) Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

5787

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN of Anak Mindanao
(AMIN) Party-List

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN-
CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES IN ALL EVACUATION CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled;

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Women-Child Friendly Spaces
Act.”

Section 2, Declaration of Policy. The State shall maintain the peace and order, the
protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare.

Section 3. Definition of Terms.

a. Women-Child Friendly Space - The Women-Child Friendly is a facility /structure
that will be established in the evacuation camps or relocation sites during crisis
situations such as natural or manmade disasters.

b. Natural Disaster - a natural event that occurs in the normal course of life such as
typhoon, flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great damage to property or
loss of life.


¢. Manmade Disaster ~ a disastrous event caused directly and principally by one or
more identifiable deliberate or negligent human actions.

d. War - a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different
groups within a nation or state.

Section 4, Establishment of Women-Child Friendly Space (WCFS). There shall be a
mandatory establishment of Women-Child Friendly Space (WCFS) in all evacuation
centers in the Philippines during natural disasters, insurgencies or war and other
related natural or man-made calamities.

Section 5. Rationale. The establishment of Women-Child Friendly Space (WCFS)
envisaged in protecting and promoting the general welfare of our women, mothers and
children and young girls during emergency situations,

This WCES is intended to respond to the needs of women, nursing mothers, young girls
and children who are temporarily sheltered in various evacuation centers established
for the moment.

Section 6. What shall constitute a Women-Child Friendly Space (WCFS).

a.) A separate quarter or space to attend to the needs of nursing mothers and young
children;

b,) Social workers, health personnel, legal specialists, security personnel and other
community workers who shall assist to the primordial needs of our women,
mothers and children;

.) It shall provide psychosocial intervention and counseling;

d.) Medical and Health services including breastfeeding counseling;

e.) Awareness sessions and life skills training relative to women’s right,
empowerment and gender equality;

£.) Legal clinic or counseling ready to address violence, harassments and other legal
issues our women and children are facing,

g.) A recreational center for adult women, children’s playground and learning
center

Section 7. Implementing Agency. The DILG shall be the overall implementing agency
for this Act, which shall coordinate with the DSWD.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DSWD in consultation,
coordination and collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government
shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, prepare the implementing
rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.


Section 9. Appropriations. The DILG Secretary shall include in the department's
program the operationalization of the WCFS Act, the initial funding of which shall be
charged against the current appropriation of the DILG. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA).

Section 10. Separability Clause.If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, those provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.

Section 11, Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuances, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended.

Section 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
the general circulation whichever comes earlier.

Approved,

HON. Arn DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN