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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3151

INTRODUCED BY REP. RUBEN B. ECLEO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to establish Resource Development and Crisis Assistance
Centers for Women and Children in every province and city of the Philippines,
pursuant to Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution which provides that “The
State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being” as
well as Section 14, of the same Article, which recognizes “ the role of women in
nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of
women and men”.

The right of children to “assistance, proper care and nutrition and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions
prejudicial to their development* is likewise mandated in Section 3, Article XV, of
the Constitution.

The establishment of these Centers will, therefore, serve as the local focal
points to address their various concerns. The Centers shall undertake programs and
projects that will develop the potentials and hone the skills of women and children,
especially in the countryside, in self-enhancement, capability-building, livelihood
generation and resources management. It will also serve as temporary shelter or
emergency refuge to women and children who are victims of abuse, cruelty or
exploitation. It is important that these centers be made accessible to the people in the
countryside, where women and children are found most marginalized and
disadvantaged.

‘The early approval of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.

RUBEN B. ECLEO, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3154

INTRODUCED BY REP. RUBEN B. ECLEO, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS ASSISTANCE
CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND
CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Women’s
and Children’s Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis hereby declared the policy
of the State to value the dignity of women and defend the rights of children and to
recognize their role in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall ensure
the protection of their fundamental rights and shall provide them with facilities and
‘opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full
potentials in the service of the nation. The State shall also endeavor to provide
women and children with utmost support and assistance which shall include among
others legal services, livelihood and skills development, psychological counseling and
all other assistance necessary to protect them against all forms of neglect, abuse,
cruelty, exploitation and other acts prejudicial to their welfare and development.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Development and Crisis
Assistance Centers. - In order to carry out the above-declared policy, there shall be
established in every province and city of the country Resource Development and
Crisis Assistance Centers for Women and Children, hereinafter referred to as the
Centers. These Centers shall be under the management and supervision of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and shall be headed by a
Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The
Director shall hold a masters or doctorate degree in Social Work or Community
Development or similar courses and shall have a minimum experience of five (5)
years in counseling, social and psychological services and other related field or
experience.



SECTION 4. Criteria for the Selection of the Sites for the Centers. - An
Inter-Agency Council shall be convened to set the criteria for the selection of the sites.
of the centers all over the country. The Council shall be composed of authorized
representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH),
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Education (DEP-ED),
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOS),
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Commission on
the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), National Youth Commission (NYC),
National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), and non-government and people’s
organizations duly-accredited by national government agencies.

SECTION 5. Functions of the Centers. - The Centers shall have the
following functions:

to serve as the venue for consciousness-raising, capability-building and
functional literacy enhancement programs, among others, that will enhance
public awareness of issues and promote community participation;

b. to undertake programs geared towards the development of maternal and child
health care, self-enhancement and the development of skills for livelihood
generation, social communication, and other related skills which will help
women and children to become productive members of society;

to provide free legal ser -s and undertake activities related to moral
recovery and gender-sensitive value formation, counseling and psycho-social
programs;

d. to provide temporary shelter for emergency refuge to women and children;

to strengthen and facilitate linkages of women’s and children’s groups and
organizations with relevant government agencies and local government units
to maximize the delivery of basic and support services for women and children
and advocate for the protection and advancement of their rights; and

f. to perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the
objectives of this Act.

SECTION 6. Beneficiaries. - All women and children under the following
circumstances shall be entitled to protection and assistance by the Center:

a vi

ims of involuntary or forced prostitution;
b. victims of sexual abuse, harassment or molestation;
¢. victims of physical abuse;

d. Victims of illegal recruitment and /or labor exploitation;


e. Victims of armed conflict, natural or environmental disasters who are
suffering from trauma due to the tragic death or displacement of family
members, dislocation or loss of livelihood;

f. Detained, abandoned and run-away women and children;

g. Victims suffering from mental, emotional, psychological and physical
impairness needing special support and assistance; and other
circumstances as may be determined by the DSWD.

SECTION 7. Rehabilitation and Development Program. - ‘The DSWD in
consultation with the Inter-Agency Council convened under Section 4 hereof shall
within six (6) months from the approval of this Act, formulate a program for the
rehabilitation, development and protection of women and children, mentioned in
Section 5 hereof. The Council shall also oversee the effective implementation of the
programs of the Center and monitor the accomplishments of participating agencies. It
shall also act as an advisory board.

The DSWD may call on national agencies and local government units,
academic institutions and international organizations to assist in the implementation
of this Act by way of program collaboration and funding augmentation, among others.

SECTION 8. Authority to Accept Donations. - ‘The DSWD, through the
President of the Philippines, may accept donations and grants, both domestic and
foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions of the Centers. The donations and
grants shall be allotted to the various centers in such amount as may be deemed bests
by the DSWD or for the purposes specified by the donor. Such donations and grants
shall be subject to pertinent accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SECTION 9. Funding and Appropriations. - ‘The amount necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the
Department of Social Welfare and Development under the current General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued
operation and maintenance of the Centers shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or part
of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,