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SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
2U6U 
Senate Bill No. ___ _ 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure seeks to provide establishment of centers for street 
children in every region in the country. 
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 
hearings about the status of street children in the country. Estimates 
from surveys conducted by the Bureau of Women and Young Workers 
also showed that there are at least 9 million child laborers in the 
country. 'A study of the DSWD lists four factors responsible for the 
street children phenomenon, to wit: poverty and underemployment of 
the country; rapid urbanization; inequitable distribution of the 
national wealth; and an ailing national economy. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development extends 
assistance to these children through its "Lingap" Centers which 
implement a program aimed at developing the children's potentials 
and reviving their hope for a better future. But the assistance is not 
enough, for the government can only do so much. In this regard, 
remedial measures must be restored 'to and legislation can help in 
that respect. However, whatever measure may be taken, it must be 
done now for the youth of today who will be the parents and leaders of 
tomorrow and who, in turn, will inculcate in their young, their own 
values, which may be different from what we want. 
In accordance with the firm commitment of the government of 
promoting children's right when it signed two (2) international 
covenants in September 1990, namely: the UN Convention of the 
Rights of the Child (CRC) and the World Declaration on Children's 
Survival, Protection and Development, as well as the participation of 
both the DSWD and the Council for the Welfare of Children not to 


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mention the participation of NGOs for the betterment of our children 
especially the in-and-out school youth and in furtherance of our tasks 
as responsible guardians of the Filipino children's future, the swift 
passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
aG-=-
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


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SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No: 2060 
'14 
,JAN 15 f' 5 :'56 
HE('I:;IVI<iI Ii \, 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G, EJERCITO 
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 and roaming in the streets without 
supervision of adults, whether parents, relatives or friends. 
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; 
bJ Temporary shelter for street children who have been 
separated from their respective homes and who have been 
staying in the streets; 
c) Basic educational, legal and' counsel services; 


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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 
street 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: 


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a. 
b. 
c. 
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. 
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. 
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 centers. These donations and grants shall be allocated 
among the regional crisis centers nationwide. 
SECTION 9. Joint Oversight Committee. -
Thee 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 (1.5) days after its publication in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,