\'l.t:' t:.' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC} 
IL),toff ,} tlir ~;tll'br~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
Second Regular Session 
} 
'IS 
FEB -2 f'S :42 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2621 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
ADDRESSING THE SYSTEM OF PROSTITUTION, IMPOSING PENALTIES ON ITS 
PERPETRATORS, 
PROVIDING 
PROTECTIVE 
MEASURES 
AND 
SUPPORT 
SERVICES FOR ITS VICTIMS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 202 
AND 341 OF ACT NO. 3815 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE 
The Philippine Constitution provides that "the State values the dignity of every 
human person and guarantees full respect for human rights." This is likewise 
guaranteed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 
Women (CEDAW) to which the Philippines is a signatory. 
Prostitution, defined as any act involving the use of a person for sexual 
gratification, pleasure or exploitation, or any act that promotes the latter, is a massive 
problem in our country. From 400,000-500,000 prostituted persons in the country in 
1998, this figure has escalated to a staggering 800,000 prostituted persons in 2009, half 
of whom are children 1. 
With 25.2% families2 living below the poverty line, poverty is often cited as the 
primary reason why some people choose to engage in prostitution. It forces some 
persons to seek any means to survive - even if it means allowing themselves to be 
abused and their lives to be endangered. Whether voluntary or involuntary, we cannot 
deny that this system uses, oppresses, and violates the rights of persons exploited in 
prostitution, particularly, women and children. 
This measure, which was left pending in the past two Congresses, was first 
introduced by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago in the 14th Congress. 
1 Philippine Commission on Women (n.d.). Enacting the Anti-Prostitution Law (Amending Articles 202 and 341 of 
the Revised Penal Code) .Retrieved from http://pcw.gov.ph/wpla/anti-prostitution 
2 Philippine Statistics Agency (National Statistics Office) (n.d.) Poverty Incidence for Basic Sectors: 2006, 2009 and 
2012 (as of 4 july 2014). Retrieved from http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty/ 


It seeks to address the root of the problem by shifting the accountability of 
prostitution from the prostituted person to the exploiters, including the traffickers, pimps, 
brothel owners, organized crime members, and corrupt officials. 
The bill likewise seeks to change the public perception and treatment of persons 
exploited in prostitution as victims of the system and not as criminals. It provides for 
mechanisms to ensure that the human rights of prostituted persons are upheld and that 
they are extracted out of the system and are able to reinstate themselves into the 
society through certain rehabilitation programs. 
Today, the number of persons exploited in prostitution is approaching the 
millionth mark. Let us not wait for this number to grow even more. Let us not wait for the 
day when we outrank all the other nations with most number of prostitutes. Let us not 
wait for the day when our country will be recognized as the "Haven of Prostitution". 
Let us uphold the dignity and the rights of all men, women and children involved 
in prostitution. 
It is for these reasons that I earnestly seek the approval of this bill. 
4) {~,~J 
PIA S~CAYETANy 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
} 
} 
} 
S.B. No. 2621 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
'I'; ITB -2 P5 :42 
ADDRESSING THE SYSTEM OF PROSTITUTION, IMPOSING PENALTIES ON ITS 
PERPETRATORS, 
PROVIDING 
PROTECTIVE 
MBASURES 
AND 
SUPPORT 
SERVICES FOR ITS VICTIMS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 202 
AND 341 OF ACT NO. 3815 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Anti-Prostitution Act 
2 
of 2015." 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. Declaration of policies. - The State: 
5 
6 
(a) Declares its commitment to end the continuing sexual exploitation of women, 
7 
men and children, and all forms of gender-based violence; 
8 
(b) Recognizes prostitution as a human rights violation that calls for coordinated 
9 
and sustained response from all agencies of government; 
10 
(c) Recognizes that women and children are systematically victimized by, and in, 
11 
the system of prostitution and must therefore be given protection and support 
12 
by the State, instead of being treated as criminals; and 
13 
(d) Recognizes that eliminating prostitution is essential for women and children to 
14 
genuinely and meaningfully participate in nation-building. 
15 
16 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
17 
18 
(a) "Prostitution" means any act, transaction, scheme or design involving the 
19 
use or exploitation of another person, whether woman, man or child, for the 
20 
sexual gratification or pleasure of another in exchange for cash, profit or other 
21 
consideration, or any act that promotes or facilitates the accomplishment of the 
22 
said act, transaction, scheme or design. 
1 


1 
(b) "Person exploited in prostitution" means a woman, man or child used, 
2 
employed or exploited for another person's sexual gratification or pleasure, and 
3 
for the monetary gain or profit of others,. 
4 
5 
(c) "Child" means any person below eighteen (18) years of age or one who is 
6 
over eighteen (18) but is unable to fully take care of or protect himself/herself 
7 
from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical 
8 
or mental disability or condition. 
9 
10 
(d) "Sexual exploitation" means the participation or engagement of a person for 
11 
any sexual act in exchange for cash, profit or other consideration as a result of 
12 
being subjected to a threat, deception, coercion, abduction, force, abuse of 
13 
authority, debt bondage, fraud or through abuse of his/her vulnerability. 
14 
15 
(e) "Sexual Act" means sexual intercourse, including genital-to-genital, oral-to-
16 
genital, anal-to-genital, 
or oral-to-anal intercourse or contact, 
bestiality, 
17 
masturbation, sadistic or masochistic abuse, exhibition of the genitals or pubic 
18 
area of any person, and other acts of a sexual nature whether the same is made 
19 
between persons of the same or opposite sex. 
20 
21 
(f) "Establishment" means any business, enterprise or establishment, including, 
22 
but not limited to, sauna, bath, massage parlor, discotheque, bar, restaurant, 
23 
resort, lodging area, motel, hotel, theater, ship, vessel, cab or taxi, or any other 
24 
vehicle, or any dwelling house, structure or building serving as a cover or venue 
25 
for prostitution, or any group, association or organization that engages in 
26 
prostitution activities. 
27 
28 
(g) "Cult" refers to, but not limited to, fanatic groups that entice, recruit or 
29 
condition any person to become sexual offerings in organizational rituals or in 
30 
other circumstances as part of membership requirement. 
31 
32 
SECTION 4. Punishable Acts. -Prostitution is a crime committed by: 
33 
34 
(a) Any person who gives or delivers money or any other consideration in exchange 
35 
for the actual performance or mere demonstration of a sexual act by a person 
36 
exploited in prostitution, regardless of whether the person giving or delivering 
37 
money or any other consideration is the recipient of such sexual act; 
2 


1 
(b) Any person who is the recipient of a sexual act whether such a recipient has 
2 
given or delivered money or any other consideration for the procurement of a 
3 
person exploited in prostitution; Provided, however, That for purposes of this 
4 
Section, a recipient shall include any person or persons or a crowd with whom a 
5 
person exploited in prostitution has actually performed or merely demonstrated 
6 
such a sexual act; 
7 
(c) Any person who offers another person for sexual exploitation in exchange for 
8 
money or any other consideration; 
9 
(d) Any person who induces, persuades, entices, compels, kidnaps, recruits or in 
10 
any manner procures or causes a person to serve in an establishment knowing 
11 
that the same is involved in prostitution activities or when he/she has reasonable 
12 
cause to believe that such establishment is involved in the said activities; 
13 
(e) Any person who uses information technology or any form of media for the 
14 
purpose of prostitution; 
15 
(f) Any person who organizes or arranges travel tours and/or tourism-related 
16 
activities that involve the sexual exploitation of any person or the escort services 
17 
of any person who is expected to perform the sexual act; 
18 
(g) Any person who, as a part of cult or religious obligation, uses, entices, recruits, 
19 
or offers any person as sexual offering or favor to other members of the cult or 
20 
religious organization; 
21 
(h) Any official or employee of any jail or detention center or any person connected 
22 
thereto who commits, causes, promotes, facilitates, allows or tolerates the 
23 
commission of any of the acts defined in this section upon inmates, or who, in 
24 
any manner, provides protection to the perpetrators of the said act; 
25 
(i) Any person who derives profit or advantage from any of the prohibited acts 
26 
defined in this Section as owner, operator, manager, head, director, officer, or 
27 
agent of the establishment where any prostitution activity defined in this Section 
28 
takes place, or of the establishment serving as a cover for any such prostitution 
29 
activity, or who aids another establishment or person involved in any prostitution 
30 
activity; 
31 
(j) Any person who leases, subleases, or in any manner allows the use of any 
32 
dwelling, house, structure, building, land or any other properly knowing that the 
33 
lessee/sub lessee intends to use or uses it for prostitution activities, as defined in 
34 
this Section. The owner of the dwelling, house structure, building, land or any 
35 
other property used for prostitution and his/her agent shall be presumed to have 
36 
knowledge that the place is being used or intended to be used for prostitution 
37 
unless he/she disproves it; 
3 


I 
(k) Any member of the military or police establishment, or any government official or 
2 
employee, or any person in authority who commits, causes, or promotes, 
3 
facilitates, allows, or tolerates the commission of any of the acts defined in this 
4 
Section, or who, in any manner, provides protection to the perpetrators of the 
5 
said acts. 
6 
7 
For purposes of this Section, it is understood that the prohibited acts of 
8 
prostitution may be committed in any establishment as defined in Section 3(f) above or 
9 
in any other place not otherwise mentioned in Section 3(f). Furthermore, an attempt to 
10 
commit any of the acts defined in this Section is also prohibited. 
11 
12 
SECTION 5. Person Exploited in Prostitution as Victims. - Any woman, man 
13 
or child used, or employed for, another person's sexual gratification, pleasure or 
14 
exploitation, and for the monetary gain or profit of others, as defined in Section 4 of this 
15 
Act, shall be treated as victims of prostitution. As such, they shall not incur any criminal 
16 
liability under this Act, except to the extent referred to under Section 6 (b) hereof. 
17 
18 
In addition, the consent of the person exploited in prostitution to the commission 
19 
of any of the acts defined in Section 4 of this Act shall not in any way exempt the 
20 
offender from, or mitigate, his/her criminal liability. 
21 
22 
SECTION 6. Penalties and Sanctions.-
23 
24 
(a) Any person found guilty of the acts defined in Section 4 shall suffer the penalty of 
25 
imprisonment of twenty (20) years and a fine of not less than one million pesos 
26 
(P1 ,000,000.00) but not more than two million pesos (P2,000,000.00); 
27 
28 
(b) Any person guilty of the acts defined in Section 4 who is also exploited in 
29 
prostitution or had been exploited in prostitution shall suffer the penalty of 
30 
imprisonment of ten (10) years for the first offense and fifteen (1S) years for the 
31 
succeeding violations and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos 
32 
(PSOO,OOO.OO) but not more than one million pesos (P1 ,000,000.00); 
33 
34 
(c) Any person guilty of attempting to commit any of the prohibited acts shall suffer 
35 
the penalty of imprisonment of fifteen (1S) years and a fine of not less than five 
36 
hundred thousand pesos (PSOO, 000.00) but not more than one million pesos 
37 
(P1, 000, 000.00); 
38 
4 


1 
(d) When the offender is any establishment as defined in this Act, the penalty shall 
2 
be imposed upon the owner and operator or manager, or the directors and 
3 
officers, or the responsible officers or agents of the establishment, corporation, 
4 
partnership, or association found to be engaged in any of the acts defined in 
5 
Section 4 of this Act. 
6 
7 
In addition, the establishment, corporation, partnership or association shall be 
8 
immediately closed and its registration and/or license to operate shall be revoked. A 
9 
sign with the words "off limits" shall be conspicuously displayed outside the 
10 
establishment by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for 
11 
such period as the Department may determine which shall not be less than one (1) 
12 
year. The unauthorized removal of such sign shall be punishable by imprisonment of 
13 
six (6) months; 
14 
15 
(e) When the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported immediately after 
16 
service of sentence and permanently barred from entry into the country; 
17 
18 
(f) Any person found guilty of committing or attempting to commit any of the 
19 
prohibited acts under Section 4 shall, in addition to the penalties stated in this 
20 
section, undergo counseling, rehabilitation and mandatory education on the 
21 
human rights situation of victims of prostitution with DSWD or its accredited NGO 
22 
for a period of not less than three (3) months but not longer than one (1) year. 
23 
The DSWD shall submit to the court a report on the rehabilitation of the offender. 
24 
25 
SECTION 7. Civil Liability for Prostitution. - Persons exploited in prostitution 
26 
may file independent civil cases for damages against the persons, natural or juridical, 
27 
responsible for their exploitation. 
28 
29 
Provinces, cities and municipalities shall be liable for damages, in addition to any 
30 
other criminal or administrative liability under existing laws, to persons exploited in 
31 
prostitution when it is proven that the responsible authorities had knowledge or were 
32 
informed of the activities constituting prostitution but did not take proper action within a 
33 
reasonable period of time. For purposes of this Section, the responsible authorities shall 
34 
be deemed to have knowledge of the prostitution activities when the same are of 
35 
common knowledge in the community. 
36 
37 
SECTION 8. Prosecution of Cases. - The person exploited in prostitution, 
38 
his/her parents, spouse, siblings, children or legal guardian, law enforcement agencies, 
5 


1 
or the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Prostitution (IACATP) created under 
2 
this Act or any person who have personal knowledge of the commission of any offense 
3 
under this Act, may file a complaint for prostitution. 
4 
5 
SECTION 9. Venue. - A criminal action arising from a violation of this Act shall 
6 
be filed where the offense was committed, or where any of its elements occurred, or 
7 
where the person exploited in prostitution actually resides at the time of the commission 
8 
of the offense; Provided, That the court where the criminal action is first filed shall 
9 
acquire jurisdiction to the exclusion of other courts. 
10 
11 
SECTION 10. Prescriptive Period. - Cases under this Act shall prescribe in 
12 
twenty (20) years. The prescriptive period shall commence to run from the day on which 
13 
the person exploited in prostitution is delivered or released from the situation of 
14 
exploitation and shall be interrupted by the filing of the complaint or information. It shall 
15 
commence to run again when such proceedings terminate without the accused being 
16 
convicted or acquitted or are unjustifiably stopped for any reason not imputable to the 
17 
accused. 
18 
19 
SECTION 11. Exemption from Filing Fees. - When the victim of prostitution 
20 
institutes a separate civil action, he or she shall be exempt from the payment of filing 
21 
fees. 
22 
23 
SECTION 12. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds and Instruments 
24 
Derived from Prostitution. - In addition to the penalty imposed for the violation of this 
25 
Act, the Court shall order the confiscation and forfeiture, in favor of the government, of 
26 
all the proceeds and properties derived from the commission of the crime, unless they 
27 
are the property of a third person not liable for the unlawful act; Provided, however, That 
28 
all awards for damages shall be taken from the personal and separate properties of the 
29 
offender; Provided, further, That if such properties are insufficient, the balance shall be 
30 
taken from the confiscated and forfeited properties. 
31 
32 
When the proceeds, properties and instruments of the offense have been 
33 
destroyed, diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any act or omission, 
34 
directly or indirectly, of the offender, or it has been concealed, removed, converted or 
35 
transferred to prevent the same from being found or to avoid forfeiture or confiscation, 
36 
the offender shall be ordered to pay the amount equal to the value of the proceeds, 
37 
property or instruments of the offense. 
6 


I 
SECTION 13. Trust Fund. - All fines imposed under this Act and the proceeds 
2 
and the properties forfeited and confiscated pursuant to Section 12 hereof, shall accrue 
3 
to a Trust Fund to be administered by the IACATP to be used exclusively for programs 
4 
that will prevent prostitution and protect, heal, and reintegrate prostituted persons into 
5 
the mainstream of society. Such programs shall include, but are not limited to, those 
6 
provided for under Section 19 sub-paragraph (1) of this Act. 
7 
8 
SECTION 14. Human Rights of Persons Exploited in Prostitution. - Persons 
9 
exploited in prostitution have human rights that must be respected, protected and 
10 
promoted by all branches, agencies and instrumentalities of the government in law 
II 
enforcement drives, criminal prosecution, civil suits, service provision, and program 
12 
development and implementation. These rights include, but are not limited to: 
13 
14 
(a) The right to be treated as human beings; 
15 
(b) The right to dignity and security of person; 
16 
(c) The right against any form of discrimination; 
17 
(d) The right to equal protection of the law; 
18 
(e) The right to be protected from abuse or exploitation, 
19 
(f) The right to seek redress for violations of their rights and to have their 
20 
complaints appropriately addressed; 
21 
(g) The right to fair and humane treatment; 
22 
(h) The right to sensitive and appropriate legal, health, and other social services; 
23 
(i) The right to organize themselves and fight for their legitimate concerns; and 
24 
0) The right to be consulted on any government initiative affecting them. 
25 
26 
Persons exploited in prostitution shall not be detained on the occasion of, or by 
27 
reason of, a raid, or in the name of law enforcement. There shall be at least one (1) 
28 
social worker or one (1) representative from a non-governmental organization (NGO) 
29 
known to be working with women exploited in prostitution present during raids. 
30 
During raids of establishment, and at any stage of the investigation, prosecution 
31 
and trial of complaints for violation of this Act, law enforcers, prosecutors and judges 
32 
shall not disclose to the public the name, personal circumstances and other information 
33 
that will establish the identity of the person exploited in prostitution, unless the latter 
34 
consents thereto in writing. 
35 
It shall also be the duty of the law enforcers to ensure that persons exploited in 
36 
prostitution are not exposed to the media on the occasion of a raid. Law enforcers who 
37 
allow or facilitate the exposure to the media of persons exploited in prostitution shall 
7 


1 
suffer the penalty of six (6) months imprisonment, without prejudice to the filing of other 
2 
criminal, civil and administrative charges under applicable laws. 
3 
4 
SECTION 15. Confidentiality. - It shall be the responsibility of any journalist, 
5 
reporter, editor, publisher or producer of print and broadcast media to protect the 
6 
identity and privacy of persons exploited in prostitution, most particularly on the 
7 
occasion of a raid or rescue operation. Any journalist, reporter, editor, publisher or 
8 
producer of print and broadcast media who exposes to the public the identity of any 
9 
person exploited in prostitution without her or his consent thereto in writing, or causes 
10 
the publication of any picture or video that violates the dignity and other human rights of 
11 
the person exploited in prostitution, shall suffer the penalty of one (1) year 
12 
imprisonment. In addition, the owner or publisher of the print or broadcast media found 
13 
guilty of the violation shall pay a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO). 
14 
This shall be without prejudice to the right of persons exploited in prostitution to file a 
15 
civil action for damages for the violation of their human rights or for any injury caused 
16 
them by the publication. 
17 
18 
SECTION 16. Entrapment Prohibited. - Law enforcers shall not use entrapment 
19 
as a method in law enforcement activities when the same will involve the sexual 
20 
exploitation of persons as defined in Section 3(b) of this Act. A law enforcement officer 
21 
who resorts to this method shall suffer the penalty of eight (8) years imprisonment. 
22 
23 
SECTION 17. Requirements for Hotels. Motels and Lodging Areas. -
24 
Notwithstanding any legislation, ordinance or rule to the contrary, every hotel, motel or 
25 
lodging area shall: 
26 
(a) Maintain a reception and registration area for guests and patrons that is 
27 
readily within the public view; 
28 
(b) Maintain open garages, or those that do not have doors or any closing 
29 
mechanism; and 
30 
(c) Maintain good lighting in all its entrances, exists, driveways and garages. 
31 
32 
No hotel, motel or lodging areashall be allowed to operate in any part of the 
33 
Philippines without complying with the preceding requirements. 
34 
For the purpose of this Section, hotels, motels, and lodging areas already 
35 
operating shall have six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act to comply with this 
36 
provision. Failure of any hotel, motel and lodging area to comply with this Section shall 
37 
result in the cancellation of their license or permit to operate. 
38 
8 


_ 
.. 
I 
SECTION 18. Mechanisms for Implementation and Monitoring. - To 
2 
effectively implement and monitor the provisions of this Act, the Inter-Agency Council 
3 
Against Trafficking (IACAT) created under Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking 
4 
in Persons Act of 2003, shall be expanded and renamed as the Inter-Agency Council 
5 
Against Trafficking and Prostitution (IACATP). 
6 
The Secretary of Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue to serve as the 
7 
Chairperson and the Secretary of DSWD as Co-Chairperson. The membership of the 
8 
IACAT shall be amended to include the following: 
9 
(a) Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government 
10 
(b) Secretary, Department of Health 
II 
(c) Secretary, Department of Tourism 
12 
(d) Director, National Bureau of Investigation 
13 
(e) Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
14 
(f) Additional NGO Representative of persons exploited in prostitution. 
15 
16 
SECTION 19. Functions of the IACATP. -
The following additional functions 
17 
shall be performed by the IACATP: 
18 
(1) Develop a program addressing prostitution and the needs of persons 
19 
exploited in prostitution and those vulnerable to be exploited in prostitution. The 
20 
program shall include public information and education campaign against prostitution, 
21 
crisis intervention service, educational assistance, socio-economic assistance such as 
22 
sustainable livelihood skills training and financial support for small-scale businesses, 
23 
and integration and complete after-care programs for persons exploited in prostitution, 
24 
among others; 
25 
(2) Identify and, if necessary, create centers in strategic places all over the 
26 
Philippines that will provide health services, including counseling and therapy, 
27 
temporary shelter and other crisis intervention services to persons exploited in 
28 
prostitution. The rape crisis centers established under Republic Act No. 8505 and the 
29 
hospital-based prosecution units for women and children may also serve as centers 
30 
servicing persons exploited in prostitution. 
31 
Each center shall establish a network of health care and other service providers 
32 
to address the needs of persons exploited in prostitution; 
33 
(3) Ensure that units created or identified within relevant government agencies, 
34 
particularly those composing the IACATP shall focus on addressing prostitution and the 
35 
needs of persons exploited in prostitution. 
36 
This shall include units within the National Prosecution Service Offices in local 
37 
government units (LGUs) that shall specifically focus on the prosecution of offenders 
38 
under this Act; 
9 


1 
(4) Ensure that relevant government agencies work in close coordination with 
2 
each other in addressing prostitution and the needs of persons exploited in prostitution; 
3 
(5) Develop and implement a training program for law enforcers, public 
4 
prosecutors, judges, government lawyers, government health care providers, social 
5 
workers, and barangay officials that aims to increase their understanding of prostitution 
6 
as a system, and equip them with the perspective and skills to appropriately address the 
7 
needs of persons exploited in prostitution, respect, protect and promote their human 
8 
rights, and pursue the prosecution of offenders; 
9 
(6) Ensure that local counterparts of the IACATP are created in every 
10 
municipality, city, and provinces; 
11 
(7) Undertake to lead the prosecution of any violation of this Act; and 
12 
(8) Promulgate, when necessary, rules and regulations for the effective 
13 
implementation and enforcement ofthis Act. 
14 
15 
SECTION 20. Responsibilities of Local Government Agencies in Anti-
16 
prostitution Efforts. - Local government units (LGUs) shall exercise their powers to 
17 
curb prostitution within their respective jurisdictions. LGUs shall create a local IACATP 
18 
that shall combat and prevent any act of prostitution in their area. The local IACATP 
19 
shall be responsible for the monitoring and documentation of cases on prostitution 
20 
within their areas of jurisdiction and shall submit an annual report to the national 
21 
IACATP. If a local committee dealing with issues related to prostitution such as 
22 
trafficking and violence against women and children had already been established, the 
23 
LGU shall ensure that programs and services for prostituted persons are integrated in 
24 
the plan of action of the said committee. It shall be unlawful for any LGU to issue 
25 
licenses or permits for the operation of any establishment that is used or intended to be 
26 
used for any prostitution activity. Any such license or permit already issued prior to the 
27 
effectivity of this Act shall be deemed automatically revoked or cancelled and shall not 
28 
be renewed. 
29 
Other responsibilities of LGUs shall include conducting public information 
30 
campaign against prostitution, carrying out rescue operations and ensuring the safety or 
31 
security of victims of prostitution. They may employ elements of the National Bureau of 
32 
Investigation (NBI) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) as provided for under 
33 
Republic Act No. 6975, as amended by Republic Act No. 8551. 
34 
35 
SECTION 21. Immunity of Government and DSWD-Accredited NGOs from 
36 
Undue Interference.- Members of the national and local IACATP and DSWD-
37 
accredited NGOs that are involved in the implementation of anti-prostitution programs 
10 


I 
are granted immunity from suit and other legal proceedings in connection with the 
2 
enforcement of said programs. 
3 
4 
SECTION 22. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
5 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General 
6 
Appropriations Act of the year following the enactment of this law and every year 
7 
thereafter. All LGUs are likewise mandated to allot not less than five percent (5%) of 
8 
their gender and development (GAD) budget and not less than five percent (5%) of the 
9 
local development fund of LGUs for programs, project, and activities aimed to control 
10 
and eliminate prostitution activities within their jurisdiction, including the development 
11 
and conduct of deterrent information campaigns directed to potential and actual buyers 
12 
of prostitution sex. 
13 
14 
SECTION 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
IS 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby and 
16 
shall continue to be in full force. 
17 
18 
SECTION 24. Suppletory Application. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 
19 
9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act shall have suppletory application to this Act. 
20 
21 
SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. - Article 202 and 341 of the Revised Penal 
22 
Code are hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, ordinances and rules inconsistent 
23 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified or repealed accordingly. 
24 
25 
SECTION 26. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon completion of 
26 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
27 
28 
Approved, 
11