EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
232
ii5£(uP Ci( Uk » . u  I'lcirv
•19 JUL-4 A9 29
RECt:'. - i J  1‘
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CRISIS CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN IN  EVERY 
REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that "the child, by reason of 
his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including 
appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth."
As stated by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito when he filed this bill during the 
Seventeenth Congress, increasing poverty in the country's urban centers such as 
Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao is causing a corresponding rise in the number of street 
children. This observation is borne out by reports of the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development in every budget hearing about the status of street children in the 
country.
Clearly, there is an urgent need to protect those street children. The vulnerable 
children that roam our streets should be sheltered from circumstances which endanger 
their survival and normal development.
Our government's commitment when it signed the UN Convention of the Rights 
of the Child (CRC) and the World Declaration on Children's Sun/ival, Protection and 
Development Is to promote children's right. To fulfill such commitment, the proposed


commitment, the proposed bill seeks to establish Crisis Center in every region so 
that proper care and nutrition will be provided to them.
Let us build a protective environment for street children. Let us protect their 
well-being.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
RONALD ‘'BATCKDELA ROSA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of I'.K & iM  'tn r ?
■19 
JU L-4 
A9 2 9
SENATE
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
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 o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. -  This Act shail be known as the "Street Children Crisis Center
2 
Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared as policy of the State to
4 
defend the right of children to assistance, including the proper care and nutrition, and
5 
to provide them with special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty,
6 
exploitation and other condition prejudicial to their development.
7 
Sec. 3. Coverage. -  This Act shall cover all persons below eighteen (18) years
8 
of age and roaming in the streets without supervision of adults, whether parents,
9 
relatives or friends.
10 
Sec. 4. Program Framework. -  There shall be a comprehensive program to be
11 
formulated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in
12 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to protect
13 
street children from circumstances which endanger their survival and normal
14 
development. Such program shall include but not limited to the following:
15 
(a) Emergency medical and feeding program;
16 
(b) Temporary shelter for street children who have been separated from
17 
their respective homes who have been staying in the streets;


1 
(c) Basic educational, legal and counsel services;
2 
(d) Immediate rehabilitation program for those identified as substance
3 
abusers;
4 
(e) Programs geared towards the acquisition of livelihood, technical, social
5 
and other related skills, which 
would help the children become
6 
productive members of society;
7 
(f) Support system provided by the Local Government Units;
8 
(g) Referral network of assistance consisting of other government agencies;
9 
(h) Program for securing foster homes or employment best suited to the
10 
individual child's capacity, training and personality;
11 
(i) A follow-up program for monitoring the progress of each child, after
12 
certain period of time, to determine other development needed to
13 
further enhance the normal development of the child;
14 
(j) Information, education and communication campaign/programs to
15 
promote the objectives of this Act; and
16 
(k)Such 
other functions as may be 
necessary for the effective
17 
implementation of this Act.
18 
Sec. 5. Implementing Agency. -  The program shall be implemented by the
19 
Department of Social Welfare and Development in close coordination with the Local
20 
Government Units (LGUs) concerned.
21 
The local officials may call upon private and responsible volunteers of the
22 
community to assist in the care of the street children by providing consultative services
23 
for medical, educational and other needs of children.
24 
Sec. 6. Functions o f the Department o f Social Welfare and Development -  The
25 
Department shall;
26 
(a) Formulate the criteria for the selection and qualification of street children
27 
who shall be covered by this Act;
28 
(b) Provide training for crisis center workers, counselors and other
29 
volunteers;
30 
(c) Coordinate activities of non-government organizations with the crisis
31 
center workers and other social workers of the Department on order that


1 
their services may be fully utilized for the attainment of the program
2 
goals;
3 
(d) Protect and assist abused, neglected or exploited children and secure
4 
proper government assistance for said street children; and
5 
(e) Promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations with in (6)
6 
months from the effectivity of this 
Act.
7 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. -  The funds necessary for the implementation of this
8 
Act shall be taken from the following sources:
9 
(a) The funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the crisis
10 
center for street children in every region shall be included in the General
11 
Appropriations Act as part of the annual budget of the Department of
12 
Social Welfare and Development.
13 
(b) Funds for the establishment of sub-regional crisis center, as may be
14 
deemed necessary shall be included in the budget of the LGUs
15 
concerned.
16 
Sec. 8. Authority to Accept Donations. -  The Department of Social Welfare and
17 
Development may accept donations and grants, both domestic and foreign, for
18 
purposes relevant to the functions of the crisis centers. These donations and grants
19 
shall be allocated among the regional crisis centers nationwide.
20 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -  If any portion of this Act be declared
21 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
22 
remain in force and effect.
23 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
24 
and executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
25 
modified accordingly.
26 
Sec. 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,