Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. ALFRED VARGAS 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A CRISIS CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN IN EVERY 
REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Children are among the most vulnerable sectors in society. According 
to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2015, 31.4 percent of children 
belong to poor families or are living below the basic needs poverty line1. In a 
1998 report entitled ―Situation of the Youth in the Philippines‖, there were 
about 1.5 million street children in the country, and around 75,000 are 
found in Metro Manila alone.2 By 2007, it was estimated that between 
250,000 and one million children now live in the streets of Metro Manila and 
are left to fend for themselves.3 
These children are left to take on the challenges of the streets due to 
many reasons: poverty; unemployment or underemployment; limited access 
to basic social services; and breakdown of family structures among others. 
Thus, they are exposed further to the perils of society like hunger, sickness, 
abuse, and exploitation; are often in conflict with the law; are further 
deprived of services (including access to school); and are victims of social 
discrimination. 
1 Philippine Statistics Authority. 2015. ―Children in the Philippines.‖ 
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/children 
2 Lee, Ma. Glaiza. 2007. ―Future First: Investing in (street)children‖. Manila Bulletin. 
streetchildrennews.wordpress.com/2007/06/23/future-first-investing-in-streetchildren/ 
3 Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). 2018. ―A Breath of Hope for Street Children in 
the Philippines‖. https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/breath-hope-street-children-philippines 
July 6, 2021
8:01 am
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Among the many problems that street children face, drugs and child 
prostitution exacerbate the vulnerabilities and marginalization they 
experience. Some reports suggest that 65 to 85 percent of the children had 
used inhalant drugs4. Additionally, many street children are also exploited 
and lured to prostitution for survival. 
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. It is important that 
the government protect the rights and dignity of every Filipino child and 
provide them care and access to basic social services such as education and 
health care. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
ALFRED VARGAS 
4 Njord, Levi; Merrill, Ray; Njord, Rebecca; Lindsay, Ryan; Pachano, Jeanette D. R. (May 10, 
2010). "Drug Use Among Street Children and Non—Street Children in the 
Philippines". Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health. 22 (2): 203–
211. doi:10.1177/1010539510361515. PMID 20457649. S2CID 206615376.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. 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
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their respective homes and who have been staying in the streets; 
(c) Basic educational, legal and counsel services; 
(d) Immediate rehabilitation program for those identified as substance 
abusers; 
(e) Programs geared towards the acquisition of livelihood, technical, 
social, and other related skills, which would help the children become 
productive members of society; 
(f) Support system provided by the Local Government Units; 
(g) Referral network of assistance consisting of other government 
agencies; 
(h) Program for securing foster homes or employment best suited to the 
individual child's capacity, training, and personality; 
(i) 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; 
(j) Information, education, and communication campaign/programs to 
promote the objectives of this Act; and 
(k) 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; 
(b) Provide training for crisis center workers, counselors, and other 
volunteers; 
(c) 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; 
(d) Protect and assist abused, neglected or exploited children and secure 
proper government assistance for said strip children; and 
(e) 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, shall 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 
Welfare and Development may accept the 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. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
SECTION 12. 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 13. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 


Approved,