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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
'14 
N()V -6 P5 :15 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2448 
By Senator Teolisto "TG" L. Guingona III 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN DURING 
DISASTER, CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION. 
Children are among the worst affected and most vulnerable during disasters worldwide. In 
November 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda affected an estimated 6 million children in the 
Philippines. The exact number of children killed, injured and missing cannot be tabulated, but is 
estimated to be in the thousands. The "Childt'en of Yolauda," who survived, experienced psycho-
social trauma, difficulties in evacuation centers, loss of education opportunities, lack of social 
protection, and many other challenges. Past disasters in the Philippines, including earthquakes, 
volcanic eruptions, floods and others, saw similar scenes of suffering and distraught children. 
Some of the trauma and suffering experienced by the "Children of Yolanda" can be avoided or 
mitigated in future disasters by Congress acting now to establish clear policies and principles 
regarding the welfare of children in situations of natural disaster. This would only happen if 
lessons from Typhoon Yolanda will be translated into specific measures for child protection. Our 
children, being this counoy's future, deserve specific attention and better services from the grim 
realities of disasters, better support so they can grow resilient, and a specific law to set standards 
and obligate concerned government agencies, and guide humanitarian actors accordingly. 
The current laws to protect children in situations of natural disasters lack clarity and detail. 
Enacted in 1992, Republic Act 7610 entitled "An Act Providing For Stronger Deterrence and 
Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation And Discrimination, and For Other 
Purposes" declares: 
"It shall lie the policy of the State to protect and rehabilitate children 
gravely t1u·eatened or endangered by circumstances which affect or 
will affect their survival and normal development and over which they 
have no controL" (Section 2) 
The law enumerates circumstances which gravely threaten or endanger the survival and nOlmal 
development of children and this includes "being a victim of a man-made 01' natural disaster or 


calamity. " 
Closer scmtiny of RA 7610, however, clearly reveals that the law fails to include specific 
provisions Oll how to protect children who are victims of disasters or calamities. 
In 201 J, the Children's Charter for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was published after 
consultations with more than 600 children in 21 countries in Africa, Asia (including the 
Philippines) and Latin America where children were asked about the impact of disasters on their 
lives and their priorities for DRR going forward. Five (5) priorities were identified by these 
children themselves, which reflects the policies in this proposed Act. 
More recently, a study by Save the Children in June 2014 on the situation of displaced families 
by Typhoon Yolanda showed that about 26,000 people remain in evacuation centers, tent cities 
and bunkhouses seven (7) months after the devastating storm stmck. That is more than 10,000 
children living in difficult conditions and with uncertainty on their education, welfare, health. 
Among them, six (6) children died after their tent in an evacuation center was razed by fire. The 
same study cited Yolarlda-areas with children reportedly engaged in harsh and dangerous work 
and many no longer going to school. Two schools are also being utilized as evacuation centers. 
These are Some issues which this proposed Act intends to address. 
The Philippines has to expect and prepare for more disasters and "Yolanda-like" typhoons and 
with it have the readiness in terms of high level policy and specific interventions to give more 
protection to millions of children who will be affected by the impact of future disasters. 
Once passed into law, this legislation will also provide Congress basis for oversight in tenns of 
how disaster responders and local governments address the needs of affected children. 
Three months after Typhoon Yolanda, .174 children were consulted by Save the Children, 
World Vision and Plan, with SUpp011 from UNICEF, to learn more about children's post-stoml 
priorities. One child said "Adults need to take the initiative and look to the children who don't 
have school, food or clothes. They need to think about what children need." (sic) Let's listen to 
them. This proposed bill echoes the voices of the "Children of Yolanda" 
Based on the foregoing, the immediate approval of the bill is urgently sou nlu--:;? 
".,',\.)',., G" GUINGONA III 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Secon{l Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2448 
By Senator Teofisto "TG" L. Guingona III 
AN ACT 
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'14 
NOV -6 P5 :15 
RECEIVE!) By:.--f 
IlROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN DURING 
DISASTER, CALAMITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION 
Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Children s Emergency Relief 
2 
and Protection Act." 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
5 
protect the fundamental rights of children during disaster, calamity and other emergency 
6 
situation when children are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances that will affect 
7' their survival and normal development. 
Towards this end, the State shall establish and 
8 
implement a comprehensive and strategic program of action to provide the children affected by 
9 
disaster, calamities and other emergency situations with utmost support and assistance necessary 
10 
for their immediate recovery and protect them against all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation 
II 
and other acts prejudicial to their interest and well-being. 
12 
13 
SEC. 3. 
Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children. - The Department of 
14 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense 
15 
(OCD), shall formulate a Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children which shall be 
16 
implemented immediately after the declaration of a national or local state of calamity to protect 
17 
the children and support their immediate recovery. 
18 
19 
The Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children, hereinafter referred to as 
20 
Program, shall have the following components: 
21 
22 
a) 
Establishment of Shelter for Displaced Children. - The Program shall prioritize 
23 
and provide housing options for displaced children, families with children and of children 
24 
separated from their families or relatives. The DWSD shall, in coordination with the local 
25 
government units of the areas declared under the state of calamity, immediately establish an 
26 
option for shelter or permanent housing. The shelter shall have emergency latrines, bathing 
27. 
cubicles and hand washing facility and shall provide child-friendly spaces where children can 
28 
take part in child activities. It shall also have provisions for maternal and baby care and rooms to 
29 
protect and ensure the right to privacy. 
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b) 
Assurance for Immediate Delivery of Basic Necessities and Services. - The 
31 
Program shall facilitate and ensure the immediate delivery of basic necessities and services 


I 
specifically needed by the affected children and youth in different stages of development. It shall 
2 
provide the affected children with basic necessities for survival which include food, water, 
3 
nutrition, medicines, clothing, sanitary and hygiene kits and other emergency needs such as 
4 
blankets, mosquito nets, cooking ware and flashlights. The Program shall give priority to the 
5 
specific needs and nutrition of pregnant women, lactating mothers, newborn babies and children 
6 
under two years old 
7 
c) 
Stronger Measures to Ensure the Safety and Security of the Affected Children. -
8 
Under the Program, the DSWD shall, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
9 
(AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), monitor and ensure the safety and the security of 
10 
the affected children in the areas declared under the state of calamity and shall protect them 
II' 
against all forms of abuse and exploitation. 
12 
d) 
limely Delivery of Health and Medical Services. - Under the Program, the 
13 
DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), immediately provide the 
14 
health and medical needs of children in the areas declared under the state of calamity including 
15 
psychosocial interventions for children and youth in different stages of development. The DOH 
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shall give highest priority to the treatment and rehabilitation of pregnant mothers and babies. 
·17 
e) 
Plan of Actionfor Prompt Resumption of Educational Servicesfor Children. - The 
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DSWD shall, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), ensure the prompt 
19 
resumption of educational services for children. 
20 
f) 
Establishment of Emergency Center. - Within five (5) days from the declaration of 
21 
a national or local state of calamity, the DSWD shall set-up a Children's Emergency Center in 
22 
every city or municipality declared under the state of calamity which shall provide the necessary 
23 
child care services and shall coordinate with the lead agencies to effectively respond to the needs 
24 
of children in the area. 
25 
g) 
Promotion of Children s Right. -
The Program shall include activities and 
26 
processes that will promote and uphold the rights of children by: 
27 
28 
i) 
Promoting a child-centered training for all first responders; 
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ii) 
Ensuring that children are provided with adequate access to age-
30 
appropriate information on the proper action, role, duties and responsibilities of various 
31' 
government agenCies during calamities and other emergency situations; 
32 
iii) 
Consulting with the affected children on their needs and priorities for 
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post-disaster relief and recovery; and 
34 
iv) 
Providing for an effective mechanism for training and meaningful 
35 
participation of children in community disaster risk reduction program. 
36 
37 
SEC. 4. 
Evacuation Centers. - Only in cases where there is no other available 
38 
place or structure which can be used as a general evacuation center, that a school may be used as 
39 
an evacuation center. 
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When a school is used as an evacuation center, the use shall be limited to the areas or 
41 
spaces in the school that are not used as classroom such as gymnasiums, auditoriums and other 
42 
open spaces. 
The use of the school premises shall not exceed thirty (30) days after the 
43 
declaration of a state of national or local calamity, unless the extension is absolutely necessary. 
44 
If the use exceeds thiIiy (30) days, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
45 
Council (NDRRMC) shall, in coordination with the Local DRRMC, provide written 
46 
documentation to the DepEd on the following 
47 
1. the name and location of the school 
48 
ii. all alternative sites and the rationale for final site selection; and 
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iii. measures being implemented to prevent interference or disruption to the 
50 
school and educational activities of children. 
51 
When temporary learning spaces or other transitional and semi-permanent structures are 
52 
used as classrooms after a disaster, the DepEd shall continuously monitor and assess the 


1 
condition of such structures in order to ensure the safety of the children and provide optimal 
2 
learning environments. Where temporary learning spaces or ~ther transitional and semi-
3 
permanent structures are used for more than six (6) months after the declaration of a state of 
4 
calamity, the regional DepEd office shall conduct quarterly site inspections and shall certify to 
5 
the Secretary of Education that such spaces are in good physical condition and sufficient to 
6 
ensure the safety of the children and their environment. 
7 
8 
SEC. 5. 
Unaccompanied or Separated Children. - In case of children who lost 
9 
their families or who are separated from their families and relatives, the DSWD shall document 
10 
and provide adequate care, initiate tracing of immediate relatives and proceed with reunification 
l.l 
services. All appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure the early reunion of unaccompanied or 
12 
separated children with their families or immediate relatives. 
13 
14. 
SEC. 6. 
Data Gathering and Reporting. - The collection and reporting of data at 
15 
all levels shall be disaggregated by age and gender in the aftermath of a national or local state of 
16 
calamity Such collected data shall be utilized to understand and respond better to the needs of 
17 
children affected by disasters and calamities. 
18 
19 
SEC. 7. 
Heightened Surveillance against Child Trafficking, Child Labor, Chilli 
20 
Prostitution, and Violence on Children. - Upon the declaration of a national and local state of 
21 
calamity, the PNP and the DSWD shall immediately heighten comprehensive surveillance and 
22 
monitoring to prevent child trafficking, labor, and 
prostitution including domestic and sexual 
23 
violence in the areas declared under the state of calamity. Within three (3) days from the 
24 
declaration of a local or national state of calamity, the PNP Chief and the Secretary of Social 
25 
Welfare and Development shall jointly submit written documentation and report on their 
26 
surveillance and monitoring to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of 
27 
Representatives. 
28 
SEC. 8. 
System of Restoring Legal Documents. - In case of destroyed or missing 
29 
legal documents of children in areas declared under the state of calamity, 
the Philippine 
30 
Statistics Authority (PSA) shall develop a system for the restoration and reconstitution of the 
31 
destroyed or missing legal documents within two (2) weeks after the submission of .the 
32 
application for the reconstitution or replacement of the destroyed or missing document. The 
33' 
PSA shall submit copies of such reconstituted documents to appropriate government agencies for 
34 
effective monitoring and reporting and to ensure the continued access of the affected children to 
35 
social services. 
36 
37 
SEC. 9. 
Training of First Responders. -
The NDRRMC shall promote and 
38 
conduct child-centered trainings for all first responders in the calamity area such as community 
.39 
and barangay leaders, school personnel and other rescuers. 
The trainings shall include the 
40 
following: 
41 
42 
(a) 
Proper procedures and measures to safeguard and protect the affected children 
43 
during and after emergencies and disasters; and 
44 
(b) 
Appropriate training on psycho-social interventions for children and youth in 
45 
different stages of development who are victims of calamities. 
46 
47 
SEC. 10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
48 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, in consultation and 
49 
coordination with the Administrator of the OCD, Secretary of Health, Secretary of Education, 
50 
PNP Chief and AFP Chief of Staff, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
51 
effective implementation of this Act. 
52 


· , 
1 
SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
2 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
3 
force and effect. 
4 
SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules 
5 
and regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
6 
amended or modified accordingly. 
7 
8 
SEC 13. 
Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
9 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation 
10 
11 
Approved,