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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5709

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Street children comprise about one to three percent of the children and youth
population of the major cities in the Philippines. As of this writing, there are over
250,000 street children plying the streets of major urban centers.

Studies conducted by advocacy groups point to the following as the main causes
for children to take the streets: (1) poverty; (2) unemployment or underemployment;
(3) limited access to basic social services; and (4) breakdown of family structures.
Street children are regularly denied the right to protection, health care, and education.
Thus, they are exposed to the perils of society like hunger, sickness, abuse, and
exploitation, and are often in conflict with the law.

To allow street children to break from the shackles of poverty and enjoy their
right to a full and happy childhood, this bill seeks to establish centers for street
children in every region of the country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘Al iD VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5709

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CRISIS CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN IN EVERY REGION OF
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the “Street Children Crisis Center
Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as policy of the State to
defend the right of children to assistance, including the proper care and nutrition, and to
provide them with special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty,
exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

SECTION 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all persons below eighteen (18)
years of age who are inadequately protected or supervised by adults and for whom the
streets, including unoccupied dwellings and wasteland, have become their home and
source of income.

SECTION 4. Program Framework. - There shall be a comprehensive program to
be formulated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to protect
street children from circumstances, which endanger their survival and normal
development. Such program shall include but not limited to the following:

a) Emergency medical and feeding program;

b) Temporary shelter for street children who have been separated from their
respective homes and who have been staying in the streets;

©) Basic educational, legal and counsel services;

d) Immediate rehabilitation program for those identified as substance abusers;


e)

8)
h)

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Programs geared towards the acquisition of livelihood, technical, social and
other related skills, which would help the children become productive
members of society;

Support system provided by the Local Government Units;
Referral network of assistance consisting of other government agencies;

Program for securing foster homes or employment best suited to the
individual child’s capacity, training and personality;

A follow-up program for monitoring the progress of each child, after a certain
period of time, to determine other interventions needed to further enhance
the normal development of the child;

Information, education and communication campaign/programs to promote
the objectives of this Act; and

Such other functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 5. Implementing Agency. - The program shall be implemented by the
Department of Social Welfare in close coordination with the Local Government Units
(LGUs) concerned.

The local officials may call upon private and responsible volunteers of the
community to assist in the care of street children by providing consultative services for
medical, educational and other needs of children.

SECTION 6. Functions of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development. - The Department shall:

a

Formulate the criteria for the selection and qualification of street children
who shall be covered by this Act;

. Provide training for crisis center workers, counselors and other volunteers;

Coordinate activities of non-government organizations with the crisis center
workers and other social workers of the Department in order that their
services may be fully utilized for the attainment of the program goals;

|. Protect and assist abused, neglected or exploited children and secure proper

government assistance for said street children; and

. Promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within six (6)

months from the effectivity of this Act.


SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be taken from the following sources:

a. The funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the crisis
center for street children in every region shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act as part of the annual budget of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development;

b. A portion of the health programs available to the Philippines under official aid
or official debt arrangements from foreign countries, the amount to be
determined by the Office of the President, shalll be extended in support of the
crisis centers.

c. Funds for the establishment of sub-regional crisis center, as may be deemed
necessary shall be included in the budget of the LGUs concerned.

SECTION 8. Authority to Accept Donations. - The Department of Social Work
and Development may accept donations and grants, both domestic and foreign, for
purposes relevant to the functions of the crisis center. These donations and grants shall
be allocated among the regional crisis centers nationwide.

SECTION 9. Joint Oversight Committee. - These is hereby created a Joint
Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of this Act. The Oversight
Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and the House
of Representatives in addition to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women
and Family Relations and that of the House Committee on the Welfare of the Children.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or any provision not affected thereby shall be
remain in force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, and
executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,