SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
2'718 
introduced by SENATOR CYNTHiA A. ViLLAR 
AN ACT 
'i ill'R -ij P 5 :'// 
PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN DURING 
DISASTER, CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is known as one of the hazard-prone countries in the world. With the 
country's geography and geographical location, about 50.3% of its total area and about 81.3% 
of the population are vulnerable to natural disasters.' In 2012, the country placed third as the 
most disaster risk country worldwide and first as the country with the most number of people 
killed due to natural disasters" 
During these unfortunate events, children are among the worst affected and most 
vulnerable. In November 2013 alone, super typhoon Yolanda affected an estimated six million 
children in the Philippines. Thousands died and went missing while those who survived suffered 
psychosocial trauma and experienced difficulties in evacuation centers. Their education also 
suffered due to indefinite suspension of classes and educational services. Worse, some were 
exploited and abused due to lack of social protection. 
In June 2014, a study by the Save the Children organization showed that more than 
10,000 children affected by Typhoon Yolanda are still living in difficult situations in evacuation 
centers and suffering the uncertainty of their education, welfare and health. Among them, six 
children died after their tent in the evacuation center was razed by fire. Many of them were not 
able to go' back to school. It was also reported that some children are now engaged in harsh 
and dangerous labor. 
These traumas and sufferings can be avoided or mitigated by establishing clear policies 
and principles to protect the children in times of calamity and disaster. 
In line with the State's commitment to "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,,3 as well as "promote 
and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of our youth",4 this 
bill aims to provide relief and protection for children in times of calamity, disaster, and other 
emergency situation. 
in view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~~.~~ 
, Natural Disasters at a Glance, Senate Economic Planning Office, 
hUps:llwww.senate.gov.ph/publications/AAG%202013-04%20-%20Natural%20Disasters_final.pdf 
2 2012 Philippine Disaster Report, Citizen's Disaster Response Center, hUp:llwww.cdrc-phil.com/wp-
contentiuploads/2009108/PDR-20 12. pdf 
3 Section 3 (2), Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 
4 Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
271 B 
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR 
AN ACT 
2 
PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN DURING 
.1 
DISASTER, CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION 
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
5 
Congress assembled: 
(> 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Children's 
7 
Emergency Relief and Protection Act." 
x 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
<) 
State to protect the fundamental rights of children during disaster, calamity and other 
III 
emergency situation when children are gravely threatened or endangered by 
II 
circumstances that will affect their survival and normal development. Towards this end, 
12 
the State shall establish and implement a comprehensive and strategic program of 
1.l 
action to provide the children affected by disaster, calamities and other emergency 
14 
situations with utmost support and assistance necessary for their immediate recovery 
15 
and protect them against all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation and other acts 
II, 
prejudicial to their interest and well-being. 
17 
SEC. 3. 
Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children. -
The 
IX 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Office 
1<) 
of Civil Defense (OCD), shall formulate a Comprehensive Emergency Program for 
20 
Children which shall be implemented immediately after the declaration of a national or 
21 
local state of calamity to protect the children and support their immediate recovery. 
11 
The Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, hereinafter referred to as 
2.1 
Program, shall have the following components: 
24 
a) 
Establishment of Shelter for Displaced Children. -
The Program shall 
25 
prioritize and provide housing options for displaced children, families with children and 
21, 
of children separated from their families or relatives. The DWSD shall, in coordination 
27 
with the local government units of the areas declared under the state of calamity, 
2X 
ii11mediately establish an option for shelter or permanent housing. The shelter shall 
2<) 
have emergency latrines, bathing cubicles and hand washing facility and shall provide 
.10 
child-friendly spaces where children can take part in child activities. It shall also have 
J I 
provisions for maternal and baby care and rooms to protect and ensure the right to 
.12 
privacy . 
.1.1 
b) 
Assurance for Immediate Delivery of Basic Necessities and Services. -
.14 
The Program shall facilitate and ensure the immediate delivery of basic necessities and 
35 
services specifically needed by the affected children and youth in different stages of 
31, 
development. It shall provide the affected children with basic necessities for survival 
.17 
which include food, water, nutrition, medicines, clothing, sanitary and hygiene kits and 
3X 
other emergency needs such as blankets, mosquito nets, cooking ware and flashlights. 
1 


The Program shall give priority to the specific needs and nutrition of pregnant women, 
2 
lactating mothers, newborn babies and children under two years old. 
3 
c) 
Stronger Measures to Ensure the Safety and Security of the Affected 
4 
Children. - Under the Program, the DSWD shall, in coordination with the Armed Forces 
5 
of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), monitor and ensure the 
il 
safety and the security of the affected children in the areas declared under the state of 
7 
calamity and shall protect them against all forms of abuse and exploitation. 
K 
d) 
TImely Delivery of f-fealth and Medical Services. - Under the Program, 
<) 
the DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), immediately 
10 
provide the health and medical needs of children in the areas declared under the state 
II 
of calamity including psychosocial interventions for children and youth in different 
12 
stages of development. 
The DOH shall give highest priority to the treatment and 
13 
rehabilitation of pregnant mothers and babies. 
14 
e) 
Plan of Action for Prompt Resumption of Educational Services for 
15 
Children. - The DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), 
I (, 
ensure the prompt resumption of educational services for children. 
17 
f) 
Establishment of Emergency Center. -
Within five (5) days from the 
IX 
declaration of a national or local state of calamity, the DSWD shall set-up a Children's 
19 
Emergency Center in every city or municipality declared under the state of calamity 
20 
which shall provide the necessary child care services and shall coordinate with the lead 
21 
agencies to effectively respond to the needs of children in the area. 
22 
g) 
Promotion of Children's Right. - The Program shall include activities and 
23 
processes that will promote and uphold the rights of children by: 
2.') 
26 
27 
2X 
.10 
31 
i. 
Promoting a child-centered training for all first responders; 
ii. 
Ensuring that children are provided with adequate access to age-
appropriate information on the proper action, role, duties and 
responsibilities of various government agencies during calamities and 
other emergency situations; 
iii. 
Consulting with the affected children on their needs and priorities for 
post-disaster relief and recovery; and 
iv. 
Providing for an effective mechanism for training and meaningful 
participation of children in community disaster risk reduction program . 
.1.1 
SEC. 4. 
Evacuation Centers. -
Only in cases where there is no other 
34 
available place or structure which can be used as a general evacuation center, that a 
.15 
school may be used as an evacuation center . 
.1r. 
When a school is used as an evacuation center, the use shall be limited to the 
17 
areas or spaces in the school that are not used as classroom such as gymnasiums, 
.1X 
auditoriums and other open spaces. The use of the school premises shall not exceed 
.19 
thirty (30) days after the declaration of a state of national or local calamity, unless the 
40 
extension is absolutely necessary. 
If the use exceeds thirty (30) days, the National 
41 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall, in coordination 
42 
with the Local DRRMC, provide written documentation to the DepEd on the following: 
43 
i. 
the name and location of the school; 
44 
ii. 
all 81ternative sites and the rationale for final site selection; and 
2 


iii. 
measures being implemented to prevent interference or disruption to 
the school and educational activities of children . 
. 1 
When temporary learning spaces or other transitional and semi-permanent 
4 
structures are used as classrooms after a disaster, the DepEd shall continuously 
5 
monitor and assess the condition of such structures in order to ensure the safety of the 
(> 
children and provide optimal learning environments. Where temporary learning spaces 
7 
or other transitional and semi-permanent structures are used for more than six (6) 
R 
months after the declaration of a state of calamity, the regional DepEd office shall 
9 
conduct quarterly site inspections and shall certify to the Secretary of Education that 
10 
such spaces are in good physical condition and sufficient to ensure the safety of the 
II 
children and their environment. 
12 
SEC. 5. 
Unaccompanied or Separated Children. -
In case of children 
IJ 
who lost their families or who are separated from their families and relatives, the DSWD 
14 
shall document and provide adequate care, initiate tracing of immediate relatives and 
\.1 
proceed with reunification services. All appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure the 
I (, 
early reunion of unaccompanied or separated children with their families or immediate 
17 
relatives. 
IX 
SEC. 6. 
Data Gathering and Reporting. - The collection and reporting of 
19 
data at all levels shall be disaggregated by age and gender in the aftermath of a 
20 
national or local state of calamity. Such collected data shall be utilized to understand 
21 
and respond better to the neEds of children affected by disasters and calamities. 
" 
SEC. 7. 
Heightened Surveillance against Child Trafficking, Child Labor, 
23 
Child Prostitution, and Violence on Children. - Upon the declaration of a national 
24 
and local state of calamity, the PNP and the DSWD shall immediately heighten 
25 
comprehensive surveillance and monitoring to prevent child trafficking, labor, and 
2(, 
prostitution including domestic and sexual violence in the areas declared under the 
27 
state of calamity. Within three (3) days from the declaration of a local or national state of 
2X 
calamity, the PNP Chief and the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development shall 
2<) 
jointly submit written documentation and report on their surveillance and monitoring to 
311 
the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
11 
SEC. 8. 
System of Restoring Legal Documents. -
I n case of destroyed 
.12 
or miSSing legal documents of children in areas declared under the state of calamity, 
33 
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall develop a system for the restoration and 
34 
reconstitution of the destroyed or missing legal documents within two (2) weeks after 
15 
the submission of the application for the reconstitution or replacement of the destroyed 
3(, 
or missing document. The PSA shall submit copies of such reconstituted documents to 
.17 
appropriate government agencies for effective monitoring and reporting and to ensure 
3X 
the continued access of the affected children to social services . 
.19 
SEC. 9. 
Training of First Responders. - The NDRRMC shall promote and 
40 
conduct child-centered trainings for all first responders in the calamity area such as 
41 
community and barangay leaders, school personnel and other rescuers. The trainings 
42 
shall include the following: 
43 
(a) 
Proper procedures and measures to safeguard and protect the affected 
44 
children during and after emergencies and disasters; and 
45 
(b) 
Appropriate training on psycho-social interventions for children and youth 
4(, 
in different stages of development who are victims of calamities . 
. \7 
SEC. 10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
4X 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, In 
49 
consultation and coordination with the Administrator of the OCD, Secretary of Health, 
3 


Secretary of Education, PNP Chief and AFP Chief of Staff, shall promulgate the 
2 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
3 
SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provision or part of this Act is 
4 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
-' 
remain in full force and effect. 
(1 
SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause, -
All laws, executive orders, presidential 
7 
decrees, rules and regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act 
x 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
t) 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
1 1 
Approved, 
4