Sixteenth Congress of the) 
Republic of the Philippines) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE BILL NO. 
248'1 
Introduced by SENATOR fERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
ANAcr 
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DEC -3 P5 :015 
PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEf AND PROTECTION fOR CHILDREN DURING DISASTER, 
CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Children are the most vulnerable victims in any calamity, whether natural or 
. man-made. 
Their exposure. to tragedies renders them completely helpless and 
defenceless amidst catastrophic adversity. 
In November 2013, super typhoon "Yolanda" affected an estimated six million 
children in our country (data from Save the Children Organization). 
The untold 
sufferings of children who lost their families and relatives to this monstrous disaster, left 
them totally baffled and disheartened. At their young age, they have experienced 
such tremendous physical and emotional pain and anguish that leaves permanent scar 
in their memories. 
Furthermore, some children - survivor went through the tormenting incidents of 
abuse, exploitation and neglect in evacuation centers where there is lack of social 
protection, thereby adding torture to their already wounded dignity. 
"In sudden-onset natural disasters, children and youth face immediate and 
obvious risks like death, injury, illness, and separation from families. Once initial life-
saving activities have concluded, however, new and more insidious risks emerge if 
causal factors, like displacement, are not quickly addressed. 
These risks include 
increased poverty, interruption of education, exploitation and disruption to social safety 
nets and supportive family structures." (Save the Children, Plan Intemational. UNICEF, 
World Vision, "After Yolanda: What Children Think, Need and Recommend (2013)). 


This bill provides measures for the protection for children in times of misfortunes 
and emergency situations. Strategic program of action is hereby established where 
Government can address the immediate needs of children in distress, including their 
timely rehabilitation and recovery. 
The protection of the rights and interests of children should never be 
compromised in whatever situation they may be in. All efforts must be ardently exerted 
to shield the children from all dangers in the face trial and hardship. 
In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
FERDINAN 
R. Mf.RCOS, JR. 


Sixteenth Congress of the) 
Republic of the Philippines) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE BILL NO. 
2487 
Introduced by SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
AN ACT 
'14 
DEC -3 P5 :03 
I' 
PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN DURING DISASTER, 
CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 
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 "Children's Emergency 
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Relief and Protection Act." 
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SEC. 2. Dec/oration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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protect the fundamental rights of children during disaster, calamity and othe'r 
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emergency situation when children are gravely threatened or endangered by 
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circumstances that will affect their survival and normal development, Towards this end, 
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the State shall establish and implement a comprehensive and strategic program of 
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action to prov'lde the children affected by disaster, calamities and other emergency 
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situations with utmost support and assistance necessary for their immediate recovery 
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and protect them against all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation and other acts 
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prejudicial to their interest and well-being, 
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SEC. 3.Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children. - The Department of 
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Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Office of Civil 
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Defense (OCD), shall formulate a Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children 
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which shall be implemented immediately after the declaration of a national or local 
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state of calamity to protect the children and support their immediate recovery, 
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The Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, hereinafter referred to as 
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Program, shall have the following components: 
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a) 
Establishment of Shelter for Displaced Children. -
The Program shall 
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prioritize and provide housing options for displaced children, families with children and 
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of children separated from their families or relatives, The DWSD shall. in coordination 
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with the local govemment units of the areas declared under the state of calamity, 
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immediately establish an option for shelter or permanent housing, The shelter shall have 


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emergency latrines, bathing cubicles and hand washing facility and shall provide child-
friendly spaces where children can take part in child activities. It shall also have 
provisions for maternal and baby care and rooms to protect and ensure the right to 
privacy. 
b) 
Assurance for Immediate Delivery of Basic Necessities and Services. - The 
Program shall facilitate and ensure the immediate delivery of basic necessities and 
services specifically needed by the affected children and youth in different stages of 
development. It shall provide the affected children with basic necessities for survival 
which include food, water, nutrition, medicines, clothing, sanitary and hygiene kits and 
other emergency needs such as blankets, mosquito nets, cooking ware and flashlights. 
The Program shall give priority to the specific needs and nutrition of pregnant women, 
lactating mothers, newborn babies and children under two years old. 
c) 
Stronger Measures to Ensure the Safety and Security of the Affected 
Children. - Under the Program, the DSWD shall, in coordination with the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), monitor and ensure the 
safety and the security of the affected children in the areas declared under the state of 
calamity and shall protect them against all forms of abuse and exploitation. 
d) 
Timely Delivery of Health and Medical Services. - Under the Program, the 
DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), immediately provide 
the health and medical needs of children in the areas declared under the state of 
calamity including psychosocial interventions for children and youth in different stages 
of development. The DOH shall give highest priority to the treatment and rehabilitation 
of pregnant mothers and babies. 
e) 
Plan of Action for Prompt Resumption of Educational Services for 
Children.- The DSWD shall, in coordination with the Deportment of Education (DepEd), 
ensure the prompt resumption of educational services for children. 
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Establishment of Emergency Center. -
Within five (5) days from the 
declaration of a national or local state of calamity, the DSWD sholl set-up a Children's 
Emergency Center in every city or municipality declared under the state of calamity 
which sholl provide the necessary child care services and shall coordinate with the lead 
agencies to effectively respond to the needs of children in the area. 
g) 
Promotion of Children's Right. - The Program shall include activities and 
processes that will promote and uphold the rights of children by: 
i) 
Promoting a child-centered training for all first responders; 
ii) 
Ensuring that children are provided with adequate access to age-
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appropriate information on the proper action, role, duties and responsibilities of 
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various government agencies during calamities and other emergency situations; 
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iii) 
Consulting with the affected children on their needs and priorities 
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for post-disaster relief and recovery; and 


iv) 
Providing for an effective mechanism for training and meaningful 
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participation of children in community disaster risk reduction program. 
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SEC. 4. Evacuation Centers. - Only in cases where there is no other available 
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place or structure which can be used as a general evacuation center, that a school 
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may be used as an evacuation center. 
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When a school is used as an evacuation center, the use shall be limited to the 
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areas or spaces in the school that are not used as classroom such as gymnasiums, 
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auditoriums and other open spaces. The use of the school premises shall not exceed 
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thirty (30) days after the declaration of a state of national or local calamity, unless the 
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extension is absolutely necessary. 
If the use exceeds thirty (30) days, the National 
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Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall, in coordination with 
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·the Local DRRMC, provide written documentation to the DepEd on the following: 
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i. the name and location of the school 
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ii. all altemative sites and the rationale for final site selection; and 
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iii. measures being implemented to prevent interference or disruption 
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to the school and educational activities of children. 
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When temporary leaming spaces or other transitional and semi-permanent 
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structures are used as classrooms after a disaster, the DepEd shall continuously monitor 
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and assess the condition of such structures in order to ensure the safety of the children 
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and provide optimalleaming environments. Where temporary leaming spaces or other 
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transitional and semi-permanent structures are used for more than six (6) months after 
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the declaration of a state of calamity, the Regional DepEd office shall conduct 
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quarterly site inspections and shall certify to the Secretary of the Department of 
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Education that such spaces are in good physical condition and sufficient to ensure the 
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. safety of the children and their environment. 
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SEC. 5. Unaccompanied or Separated Children. - In case of children who lost their 
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families or who are separated from their families and relatives, the DSWD shall 
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document and provide adequate care, initiate tracing of immediate relatives and. 
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proceed with reunification services. All appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure the 
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early reunion of unaccompanied or separated children with their families or immediate 
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relatives. 
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SEC. 6. Data Gathering and Reporting. - The collection and reporting of data at 
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all levels shall be disaggregated by age and gender in the aftermath of a national or 
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local state of calamity. 
Such collected data shall be utilized to understand and 
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respond better to the needs of children affected by disasters and calamities. 
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SEC. 7. Heightened Surveillance against Child Trafficking, Child Labor, Child 
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Prostitution, and Violence on Children. - Upon the declaration of a notional and local 
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state of calamity, the PNP and the DSWD sholl immediately heighten comprehensive 
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surveillance and moniioring to prevent child trafficking, labor, and 
prostitution 


i'ncluding domestic and sexual violence in the areas declared under the state of 
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calamity. Within three (3) days from the declaration of a local or national state of 
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calamity, the PNP Chief and the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and 
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Development shall jointly submit written documentation and report on their surveillance 
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and monitoring to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of 
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Representatives. 
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SEC. S.System of Restoring Legal Documents. -
In case of destroyed or missing 
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legal documents of children in areas declared under the state of calamity, 
the 
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Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall 
develop a system for the restoration and 
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reconstitution of the destroyed or missing legal documents within two (2) weeks after 
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the submission of the application for the reconstitution or replacement of the destroyed 
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or missing document. The PSA shall submit copies of such reconstituted documents to 
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appropriate government agencies for effective monitoring and reporting and to ensure 
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the continued access of the affected children to social services. 
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SEC.9.Training of First Responders. - The NDRRMC shall promote and conduct 
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child-centered trainings for all first responders in the calamity area such as community 
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and barangay leaders, school personnel and other rescuers. The trainings shall include 
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the following: 
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(a) 
Proper procedures and measures to safeguard and protect the affected 
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children during and after' emergencies and disasters; and 
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(b) 
Appropriate training on psycho-social interventions for children and youth 
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in different stages of development who are victims of calamities. 
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SEC. 10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act. the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and 
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Development, in consultation and coordination with the Administrator of the Office of 
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the Civil Defense, Secretary of the Department of Health, Secretary of the Department 
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of Education, Philippine National Police Chief and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief 
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of Staff, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected sholl remain in 
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full force and effect. 
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SEC. 12, 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
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rules and regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are 
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hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. 
Effectivity. -
This Act sholl take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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pUblication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,