U,
‘A .
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1250
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
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’19 
DEC 18 P3 142
AN ACT ESTABLISHING RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS 
CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITY 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 13 and 14 Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, to wit:
“Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and 
shall promote 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.
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall 
ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.”
Furthermore, Section 3, Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, to wit:
“Section 3. The State shall defend:
X X X
2. 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;
XXX
In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of the Constitution, the proposed bill aims to 
establish Centers, particularly in the countryside, that shall undertake programs and 
projects that will help amplify the skills of women and children in terms of self­
enhancement, capacity-building, livelihood generation and resources management.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.
MARIA LOURr^S NANCY S. BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1250
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'19 
DEC 18 P3 42
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT ESTABLISHING RESOL RCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS 
CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITY 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 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 “Women’s and Children’s 
Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Act”.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
value the dignity of women and defend the rights of children and to recognize their role 
in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall ensure the protection of their 
fundamental rights and shall provide them with facilities and opportunities that will 
enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potentials in the service of the 
nation. The State shall also endeavor to provide women and children with utmost support 
and assistance which shall include among others legal services, livelihood and skills 
development, psychological counseling and all other assistance necessary to protect them 
against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other acts prejudicial to their 
welfare and development.
SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Centers. — 
In order to carry out the above-declared policy, there shall be established in every 
province and city of the country Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Centers for 
Women and Children (hereinafter referred to as the “Centers”). These Centers shall be 
under the management and supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) and shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines. The Director shall hold a masters or doctorate degree in 
Social Work or Community Development or similar courses and shall have a minimum 
experience of five (5) years in counseling, social and psychological services and other 
related field or experience.
SECTION 4. Criteria for the Selection of the Sites for the Centers. -  An Inter-Agency 
Council shall be convened to set the criteria for the selection of the sites of the centers all 
over the country. The Council shall be composed of authorized representatives from the


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DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, 
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Department of Labor and 
Employment, Department of Justice, National Economic and Development Authority, 
National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, National Youth Commission, 
National Manpower and Youth Council, Philippine National Police Women and Children 
Protection Center (“PNP-WCPC”) and non-government and people’s organizations duly- 
accredited by national government agencies.
SECTION 5. Functions of the Centers. -  The Centers shall have the following functions;
a. 
to serve as the venue of consciousness-raising, capacity-building and functional 
literacy enhancement programs, among others, that will enhance public 
awareness of issues and promote community participation;
b. 
to undertake programs geared towards the development of maternal and child 
health care, self-enhancement and the development of skills for livelihood 
generation, social communication, and other related skills which will help 
women and children to become productive members of society;
c. 
to provide free legal services and undertake activities related to moral recovery 
and gender-sensitive value formation, counseling and psycho-social programs;
d. 
to provide free medical assistance, including medico-legal examinations and 
psychological counseling to victims of rape and other cases of violence against 
women and children, at all times ensuring the security and privacy of the 
women and children concerned;
e. 
to provide temporary shelter for emergency refuge to women and children;
f. 
to serve as half-way house for children awaiting transfer to foster homes, 
DSWD shelters and those separated from their respective homes;
g. 
to provide skills training or livelihood assistance to survivors of violence or 
abuse;
h. 
to strengthen and facilitate linkages of women’s and children’s groups and 
organization with relevant government agencies and local government units to 
maximize the delivery of basic and support services for women and children 
and advocate for the protection and advancement of their rights; and
i. 
to perform such other function as may be necessary to carry out the objectives 
of this Act.
SECTION 6, Beneficiaries. -  All women and children under the following 
circumstances shall be entitled to protection and assistance by the Center;


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a. 
Victims of involuntary or forced prostitution;
b. 
Victims of sexual abuse, harassment or molestation;
c. 
Victims of prostitution;
d. 
Victims of physical abuse;
e. 
Victims of illegal recruitment and/or labor exploitations;
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Victims of armed conflict, natural or environmental disasters who are suffering 
from trauma due to the tragic death or displacement of family members, 
dislocation or loss of livelihood;
g. 
Detained, abandoned and run-away women and children;
h. 
Victims suffering from mental, emotional, psychological and physical disability 
needing special support and assistance; and
i. 
Victims of other circumstances as may be determined by the DSWD.
SECTION 7. Rehabilitation and Development Program. -  The DSWD in coordination 
with the Inter-Agency Council convened under Section hereof shall within six (6) months 
form the approval of this Act, formulate a program for the rehabilitation, development 
and protection of women and children, mention in Section 6 hereof. The Council shall 
also oversee the effective implementation of the programs of the Center and monitor the 
accomplishments of participating agencies. It shall also act as an advisory board.
The DSWD may call on national agencies and local government units, academic 
institutions and international organizations to assist in the implementation of this Act by 
way of program collaboration and funding augmentation, among others.
SECTION 8. Coordination with the Philippine National Police. -  The PNP-WCPC shall 
work in close coordination with the Inter-Agency Council constituted herein for the 
purpose of referring women and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse 
to the nearest Crisis Assistance Center.
SECTION 9. Authority to Accept Donations. -  The DSWD, through the Secretary of 
Social Welfare and Development, may accept donations and grants, both domestic and 
foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions of the Centers. The donations and grants 
shall be allotted to the various centers in such amount may be deemed bests by the 
DSWD or for the purposes specified by the donor. Such donations and grants shall be 
subject to pertinent accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
SECTION 10. Funding and Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of


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Social Welfare and Development under the current General Appropriations Act. 
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of 
the Centers shall be included in the regular appropriations for the DSWD in the annual 
General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly.
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -  If for any reason, any section or part of this Act is 
held unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
and effect.
SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,