Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo,__ 8.1.4

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES EMMI A. DE JESUS, LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN,
FERNANDO HICAP, NERI COLMENARES, CARLOS ZARATE, JAMES MARK TERRY RIDON
AND ANTONIO TINIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Majority of prostituted Filipino women, are young or under 20 years of age,
originate from the provinces, and are from poor families. Since the year 2000, there has
been 500,000 estimated prostituted women and 100,000 of them were children. *A
large number of them are likely to be victims of sexual abuse several times during raids
on suspected prostitution dens. Prostituted women are arrested, jailed and fined for
prostitution. On the other hand, owners and managers of establishments as well as their
customers are left off the hook.

Prostituted women and prostitution are commonly viewed in the Philippines as
one and the same. They are commonly considered as social problems, inimical to
society's morality and decency. The government uses both moral condemnation and
legal sanctions to “flush them out”, for prostitutes are seen as the ultimate “evil”
expression of prostitution. They are the most mentioned, the focus is immediately on
women and children who personally provide sexual services; the assumption is that
women in prostitution “seduce” men and thus represent or personify the root of the
problem. This view reveals no understanding of prostitution as a system and of

prostitutes as individuals caught up in and victimized by that system.

The common understanding of prostitution is that it involves the sale of sexual
services by women and children. This does not however, consider that in prostitution,

the major players are mostly men while women and children assume the functional role

" CWR Data January 2000-August 2011


of objects of delivery of sexual services and that there is intended profit. Prostitution is a
system whereby women’s and children’s bodies and their sexuality are sold as

commodity and exploited to satisfy men’s sexual needs.

Society sees children in prostitution as victims and quickly condemns those who
victimize them. However, it does not have the same view of prostituted women. It
mainly sees adult women as free autonomous persons, who enter into individual and
private transactions with their customers. It automatically assumes that an adult woman
is on equal footing with the other party involved in the transaction and is therefore free
to set the conditions of that transaction. The unfortunate error behind this view is that it
detaches prostitution from the context of capitalist economic relation and the prevailing
patriarchal ideology. Both see women’s bodies as objects and their sexuality as buyable

and given to abuse by men, On the other hand, men are allowed to escape responsibi

for using women in prostitution.

Prostitution should be likened to the system of slavery. Therefore, those in slave-

like situations should not be criminalized based on age or “choice”. This adult-child
divide becomes particularly anomalous in cases of women brought into prostitution as

children.

Prostitution has become a highly organized business with its own system of
recruitment and trade which ensures the systematic and unhampered flow of products
and profits. Its entrepreneurs, through pornography, offer women and children to the

male market and create a continuous demand for sexual services.

The promotion of tourism with sex as an essential feature perpetuates
prostitution. The promotion by government of overseas jobs as viable option for Filipino
workers also creates a favorable climate for prostitution. It provides a fertile ground for

illegal and deceptive recruiters in the migration process.

Existing Philippine laws do not define “prostitution” only “prostitutes”. Article
202 (5) of the Revised Pena; Code identifies “prostitutes” as “women who, money or
profit, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct”. BEING A

PROSTITUTE IS A CRIME UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE. Article 202 also holds

2


criminally liable “any idle or dissolute person who lodges in houses of ill-frame, ruffians,
or pimps or those who habitually associate with prostitutes.” But men who go to clubs,

bars and other similar establishments hardly qualify as “idle” or “dissolute”.

Other than Article 202, the other provision that deals directly with prostitution is
Article 341 of the Revised Penal Code on white slavery. It penalizes “any person who, in
@ manner, or under any pretext, shall engage in the business if shall profit by
prostitution or shall enlist the services of any other person for the purpose of
prostitution”. The reality, however, is while society penalizes, stigmatizes and ostracizes
women in prostitution; it never even questions why men demand and pay for sex. In
addition, the criminal liability of individuals engaged in the business of prostitution and
under Article 341 of the Revised Penal Code is hardly enforced. Thus, businesses related

to prostitution continue to thrive.

In addition, the amendment on the anti-vagrancy act which decriminalizes
vagrancy still considers prostituted women as criminals which is a clear violation of their
right to be protected from abuse and violence. The law is very anti-women and anti-
poor because it directs the claws of the law towards the victims instead of the pimps
and customers and all those who profit from prostitution. Poverty is the crime that
makes women vulnerable to prostitution, trafficking, slavery and abuse. The societal
system that perpetuates poverty should be the one arrested, and not the women and

children who are its victims.”

Prostitution is a serious form of human rights violation. Women in prostitution
do not profit from prostitution. Even with the long hours of providing sexual service and
the number of men they service, their earnings are meager. A big percentage of their

earnings go to bar owners and pimps.

Women in prostitution are alone, unprotected and not respected. They are
stigmatized by society, criminalized by the law and exploited in the sex trade. They are in
constant fear. They experience abuse and violence from their customers, bars and club

owners and pimps. Women in prostitution are vulnerable to the risks of diseases such as

? Gabrielawomensparty.net


STD's and HIV/Aids. Moreover, prostituted women reflect what is called “the short shelf
life” because of the physical and psychological harm brought by prostitution due to
sexual violence and physical assault, health problems and post traumatic disorders. °In
fact, fear of such diseases is one factor why men give high premium to young and ‘fresh’
prostituted children and women. The latter suffer from extreme discrimination and are
considered unworthy and denied them and worse, are oftentimes violated by the police

and criminalized by the legal system.

Women in prostitution are powerless. In most cases, prostitutes are not involved
in the transaction. It is often between a pimp, club, brothel owner and the customer; the
Prostitute becomes part of the transaction only because she will implement the terms of
the transaction. In some case, payment is given to the pimp. In most case, the pimp

cheats the prostitute of the actual monetary value that she was promised.

Prostitution must be approached in its entirety. Both the structural mechanism
and ideological justification which uphold it must be addressed. One way to address
such injustice is not to tolerate it but to eradicate it. For the women and children to stop
working in the sex industry, the government must provide them alternatives to improve
their social and legal conditions. Hence, social policies must reflect the right not to be
prostituted. The government first and foremost address the factors in general that
perpetuate prostitution and ensure environment that will eradicate prostitution in the
long term. In the meantime, it must address the contradiction in policies which, in effect,
reinforce the system of prostitution. The adult child divide must be removed and women
and children in prostitution must not be treated as criminals and as outcasts in society.
Legal efforts should be directed against establishments, pimps and male customers and
all others who profit from the business of prostitution. Policies and programs that will
address problems of women in prostitution and that will protect them must be
developed. Those who control, perpetuate, and benefit from the business of

prostitution must be penalized.

> Melissa Farley, “Bad for the Body, Bad for the Heart: Prostitution Harms Women Even If
Legalized or Decriminatized,” Violence Against Women. 10:10 (October 2004). 1087-1125.
Retrieved, June 15, 2013, from www.nassa.org.ph

4


Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Armile

EMMI A. DE JESUS
Gabriela Women’s Party

INDA C. ILAGAN,
Gabriela Women’s Party

Lewin

Bayan Muna Partylist

Kabataan Partylist

FRRNANDO HIGRP
Anakpawis Partylist

JERI GOLMENARE:
aya Muna Pal

ACT Teachers Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 814

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES EMMI A. DE JESUS, LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN,
FERNANDO HICAP, NERI COLMENARES, CARLOS ZARATE, JAMES MARK TERRY RIDON
AND ANTONIO TINIO

‘AN ACT REPEALING ARTICLES 202 AND 341 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE AND
INSTITUTING A SYSTEM OF PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS OF PROSTITUTION AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as “The Anti — Prostitution Act of 2013”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies - The State:

(a) declares it commitments to end the continuing sexual exploitation of women
and children and all forms of gender — based violence by comprehensively addressing
the factors that perpetuate sexual exploitation;

(b) recognizes prostitution as a human rights violation which calls for coordinated
and sustained response from all agencies and at all levels of government.

(c) recognizes that women and children are victimized by the system of
prostitution and must therefore be given protection and support by the State instead of
being treated as criminals;

(d) recognizes that eliminating prostitution requires the abolition of the
patriarchal ideology that perpetuates the view of women as objects for commodification
and the restructuring of the exploitative capitalist system that economically and
politically marginalizes majority of Filipinos; and

(e) recognizes international commitments , particularly , the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

6


Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the child , Convention
Against Transnational Organized Crime including its Protocol to Prevent . Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and other international
human rights Instruments of which the Philippines is a party, declaring its commitment
to end the continuing sexual exploitation of women, men, and children and all forms of
gender — based violence by creating an enabling environment where the human rights of
women and children are observe, protected, and fulfilled

SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms- The following terms are defined for purposes of this
Act:

(a) Prostitution — any act, transaction, scheme or design involving the use of a
person by another, whether through the performance of such act or mere
demonstration thereof, for sexual intercourse, lascivious conduct or for sexual
gratification in exchange for money or checks profit or any other consideration, or any
act that promotes or facilitates the accomplishment of the said act, transaction , scheme
or design.

(b) Person exploited in prostitution — refers to a woman, man or child used,
exploited or employed for another person’s sexual gratification, pleasure or exploitation
and for the monetary gain or profit to others.

(c) Child- refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or one who is over
eighteen (18) but is unable to fully take care of or protect herself/himself from abuse,
neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability
or condition.

(d) Prostitution Den ~ refers to any business or enterprise , including but not
limited to, sauna, bath, massage parlor, discotheque, bar, restaurant, resort, lodging
house, motel, hotel, theatre, ship, vessel, cab or taxi, or any other vehicle, or any
dwelling, house, jail, detention centre, structure or building, or any group, association,
organization, or services such as escort services, serving as a cover or venue for, or

which engages in prostitution activities as defined in Section 4 of this Act.

(e) Sexual Act ~ refers to sexual intercourse , including genital to genital , oral to
genital , anal to genital , or intercourse or contact , insertion of any instrument or object
into the genital or anal orifice of any person , bestiality , masturbation , sadistic , or
masochistic abuse , exhibition of the genitals or public area of any person and other acts
presumed to be sexual nature, whether the same is made between persons of the same
or opposite sex.


(f) Sexual exploitation — refers to the practice by which a person is sexually
subjugated through abuse or violation, either covert or overt, of a person’s sexuality
and physical or mental integrity as a result of being subjected to threat, deception,
coercion, abduction, force, abuse of authority, debt bondage, fraud or through abuse of
her/his vulnerability as a means of achieving gratification, financial gain , and
advancement.

(g) Public Officers- refers to any person who, by the direct provision of the law,
popular election of appointment by competent authority, shall take part in the
performance of public functions in the Government of the Philippine Islands, or shall
perform in said Goverment or in any of its branches public duties as an employee, agent
or subordinate official, of any rank or class.

SECTION 4. Punishable Acts- Prostitution is a crime committed by:

{a) Giving, conveying or delivering money or any other consideration in exchange
for the actual performance or mere demonstration of a sexual act by a person exploited
in prostitution, regardless whether the person giving or delivering money or any other
consideration is the recipient of the sexual act; Provided, however, that for purposes of
this section, being a recipient shall include persons or crowds before whom a person
exploited in prostitution has actually performed or merely demonstrated the sexual act,
provided, further, that the actual performance of the acts by the person exploited in
prostitution is not a requirement for the offender to be prosecuted under the provision;

{b) Recruiting, inducing, persuading, enticing, compelling, kidnapping, or in any
manner procuring a person for the purposes of exploiting a person in prostitution, or
causes a person to work in an establishment knowing that the same is involved in
prostitution activities or when she/he has reasonable cause to believe that such
establishment is involved in the said activities;

her person purportedly for lawful employment but actually for the purpose of
exploiting the person in prostitution;

(d) Transporting a person or persons from one place to another for purpose of
exploiting the person or persons in prostitution;

(e) Organizing or arranging travel, tours, and other tourism-related activities
which involve the sexual exploitation of another person as defined in Section 3 (f) of this
‘Act or the escort services of any person who is expected to perform the sexual acts
defined in Section 3 (e) of this Act;


hidden or secluded area, o under circumstances which would lead a reasonable person
to believe that the child is prostituted.

(b) any establishment providing entertainment or relaxation to the public,
including, but not limited to, sauna, bath parlour, massage parlour, discotheque, bar,
videoke or sing-a-long establishment, resort, lodging house, motel and hotel, which
employs a child; and

(c) any person receiving services from a child in a sauna parlour or bath, massage
clinic, health club or any other similar establishment. -

SECTION 6. Who may commit prohibited act. The acts define in Section 4 of this Act may
be committed by any natural or juridical person, establishment, association, movement,
cult, religious group or any organization.

SECTION 7. Person Exploited in Prostitution as Victims- Any woman, man or child used or
employed for another person's sexual gratification, pleasure or exploitation and for the
monetary gain or profit of others, as define in Section 4 of this Act, shall be treated as
victims of prostitution. As such, they shall not incur any criminal liability under this Act,
except to the extent referred to under Section 9 (b) hereof.

SECTION 8. Consent of victim immaterial. The consent of the person exploited in
prostitution to the commission of any of the acts defined in Section 4 of this Act shall not
in any way exempt the offender fro, or mitigate her/his, criminal liability.

SECTION 9. Penalties and Sanctions.

(a) Any person found guilty of the acts defined in Section 4 shall suffer the
penalty of imprisonment of 14 years, 8 months and 1 day to 17 years and 4months
unless the person exploited in prostitution is a child, in which the penalty shall be
imprisonment of 17 years, 4 months and 1 day to 20 years, without prejudice to the
filing of other criminal charges under other applicable laws.

(b) Any person guilty of the acts defined in Section 4 who is also exploited in
prostitution or had been exploited in prostitution shall suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of 10 years and 1 day to 12 years for the first offense and imprisonment
of 12 years and 1 day to 14 years and 8 months for the succeeding violations and a fine
of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000) but not more than one
million pesos (PhP 1,000,000).

(c) The penalty of imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 14 years and 8 months
shall be imposed when the offender is an ascendant, parent, guardian, stepparent,


collateral relative within fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, or exercises parental
authority or moral ascendancy over the person exploited in prostitution. This penalty
shall apply to any offender who is the legal spouse or common-law spouse of any of the
persons aforementioned. If the offended party is a child, the penalty shall be
imprisonment of 14 years, 8 months and 1 day to 17 years and 4 months.

(d) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of hundred thousand pesos (PhP
500,000) shall be imposed on the offender who is a member of the police or military
establishment, or a government official or employee. in addition, the offender shall be
perpetually disqualified from holding any appointive position or from running for any
elective position in government.

(e) The owner and operator or manager, or the directors and officers of the
establishment, corporation, partnership or association found to be engaged in any of the
acts define in Section 4 shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 20 years and 1 day to
40 years and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000), but not
more than one million pesos (PhP 1,000,000) each; Provided, however, that if the person
exploited in prostitution is a child, the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of one
million pesos (PhP 1,000,000) shall be imposed on the offender.

In addition, the establishment, corporation, partnership or association shall be
immediately closed and its registration and/or license to operate shall be revoked,
without prejudice to the filing of other charges under other applicable laws.

(f) Any person found guilty of any of the acts define in Section 4 and not falling
under Sec.9 (a), 9 (b), 9 (d) and 9 (g) shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 12 years
and 1 day to 20 years and a fine of five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000) shall be
imposed; Provided, further, that if the offender is a woman who is exploited or had been
exploited in prostitution, she shall suffer the penalty of 6 months and 1 day to 6 years
and no fine shall be imposed on her.

(g) When the offender is a foreigner, he/she shall be deported immediately after
service of sentence and permanently barred from entry into the county.

(h) Any person found guilty of an attempt to commit child prostitution shall
suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 6 years and 1 day to 8 years, without prejudice to
the filing og other criminal charges under other applicable laws; provided, however, that
in cases falling under Section 5, paragraph (b), the owner and operator or manager, or
the directors and officers of the establishment shall suffer the penalty of 8 years and 1
day to 10 years and a fine of three hundred thousand (P300,000).

In addition to the penalty of imprisonment and fine, any person who is found
guilty of any acts provided under Section 4 and 5 of this Act shall undergo a

10


rehabilitation program and community service with the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) which shall not be shorter than three months nor longer than
one year, provided that only first-time offenders shall undergo such rehabilitation and
community service program. The DSWD shall submit to the court a report of the
rehabilitation and community service of the offender.

Public officers found guilty of an attempt to commit child prostitution shall, in
addition to the penalty provided for the same, shall suffer penalty of temporary absolute
disqualification.

SECTION 10. Civil Liability for prostitution. -Persons exploited in prostitution may bring a
civil action for damages against the person allegedly responsible for their exploitation.
Such civil action shall be independent of any criminal proceedings and a preponderance
of evidence shall suffice support such action.

SECTION 11. Applicability of Republic Act No. 7309 and Republic Act No. 6981. Persons
exploited in prostitution shall be covered by the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit
‘Act, or Republic Act No. 6981. They may also file claims with the Board of Claims created
under Republic Act No. 7309. For the purpose of the application of Republic Act No.
7309, persons exploited in prostitution shall be deemed victims of violent crimes under
Section 3, paragraph (d) thereof.

SECTION 12. Responsibilities of government agencies in anti-prostitution efforts. ~ Local
government units shall exercise their power to curb prostitution within their respective
jurisdictions. Their responsibility shall include conducting education and public
information campaign against prostitution and to eradicate the negative views attached
to women forced into prostitution. Local government units may employ elements of the
National Bureau of Investigation or the Philippine National police as provided for under
Republic Act No. 6975, as amended by Republic Act No. 8551.

The national government shall ensure that local government units
conscientiously engage in anti-prostitution activities, provide support for the same, and
interviews when necessary.

The NBI and PNP shall continuously conduct surveillance and monitor
establishments to prevent prostitution. They shall promptly investigate any
establishment suspected to be engaged in activities constituting prostitution under
Section 4 of this Act and shall take appropriate measures, in coordination with the local

At


government unit concerned and other relevant government agencies, for the speedy
prosecution of the offenders.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall undertake corrective and enforcement
measures to stop activities in tourism constituting, promoting, or facilitating
prostitution.

SECTION 13. Liability of local government units. Provinces, cities and municipalities shall
be liable for damages to persons exploited in prostitution when it is proven that the
responsible authorities had knowledge or were informed of the activities constituting
prostitution but did not take proper action within a reasonable period of time.

The responsible authorities shall be deemed to have knowledge of the

prostitution activities when the same are common knowledge in the community.

SECTION 14. Requirements for hotels, motels and lodging houses. Notwithstanding any
legislation, ordinance or rule to the contrary, every motel or lodging area shall

(a) Maintain a reception and registration area for guests ad patron that is readily
within the public view;

(b) Strictly require the registration of every guest and patron in the reception and
registration area referred above, and for this purpose keep a registration book at all
times;

(c) Maintain open garages, or those which do not have doors or any closing
mechanism;

(d) Maintain good lightning in all entrances, exits, driveways and garages.

No hotel, motel or lodging shall be allowed to operate in any part of the
Philippines without complying with the preceding requirements.

For the purpose of this Section, hotels, motels and lodging houses already
operating shall have six months from the effectivity of this Act to comply with this
provision.

SECTION 15. Human rights of persons exploited in prostitution. Person exploited in
prostitution have human rights which must be respected, protected and promoted by all
branches , agencies and

\strumentalities of the government in law enforcement drives,

4d


criminal prosecution, civil suits and service provision, and program development and
implementation. These rights include, but are not limited to:

(a) the right to be treated as human beings,

(b) the right to dignity and security of person,

(c) the right against any form of discrimination,

(d) the right to equal protection of the law,

(e) the right to be protected from the abuse and exploitation,

(f) the right to seek redress for violations of their rights and to have their
complaints appropriately addressed,

(g) the right to fair and humane treatment

{h) the right to sensitive and appropriate legal, health, and other social services,
(i) the right ot organize themselves and fight for their legitimate concerns, and
(j) the right to be consulted on any governmental initiative affecting them.

Persons exploited in prostitution shall not be detained on the occasion of or by
rason of a raid or in the name of law enforcement. There shall be at least one social
worker or one representative from a non-governmental organization known to be
working with women exploited in prostitution present during raids.

During raids of establishments, and at any stage of the investigation, prosecution
and trial of complaints for violation of this Act, law enforcers prosecutors and judges,
shall not disclose to the public the name, personal circumstances and other information
that will establish the identity of the person exploited in prostitution, unless the latter
consents thereto in writing.

It shall also be the duty of all enforcers to ensure that persons exploited in
prostitution are not exposed to the media on the occasion of a raid. Law enforcers who
allow or facilitate the exposure to the media of persons exploited in prostitution shall
suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period, without prejudice to the
filing of other criminal and administrative charges under applicable laws.

Any journalist, reporter, editor, publisher or producer of print and broadcast
media who exposes to the public the identity of any person exploited in prostitution
without his or her consent thereto in writing, of causes the publication of any picture
that violates the dignity and other human rights of the persons exploited in prostitution,

45


shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period. In addition, the owner
or publisher of the print or broadcast media found guilty of the violation shall pay a fine
of five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000). This shall be without prejudice to the
right of persons exploited in prostitution to file a civil action for damages for the
violation of their human rights or for any injury caused then by the publication.

SECTION 16. Entrapment prohibited. Law enforcers shall not use entrapment as a
method in law enforcement activities when the same will involve the Sexual exploitation
of persons as defined in Section 3 (f) of this Act. A law enforcement officer who resorts
to this method shall be punished under Section 4 (a) of this Act.

SECTION 17. Enforcement of labour laws and regulations. The Bureau of Working
Conditions of the Department of Labour and Employment and its regional, provincial
and district offices shall conduct, in coordination with the local government officials and
relevant agencies, quarterly monitoring of all establishments to ensure that they comply
with the minimum wage law and other laws on labour standards. Quarterly monitoring
reports shall be submitted to the chief executives of provinces, cities, and municipalities
for their appropriate action. Copies shall also be furnished to the Anti-Prostitution
Council created under this Act.

SECTION 18. The National Anti-Prostitution Council. There shall be a National Anti-
Prostitution Council composed of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as
lead agency, the National Commission of the Role of Filipino Women, the Department of
Labour and Employemnt, the TESDA, the Department of Health, the Department of
Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of
Investigation, the Philippine National police, three (3) non-government organizations
(NGOs) selected by NGOs providing support services to victims of prostitution, and three
(3) representatives of persons exploited in prostitution. The National Prostitution Task
Force shall perform the following functions:

(a) Develop a program addressing prostitution and the needs of persons
exploited in prostitution and those vulnerable to be exploit
program shall include public information and education campaign against prostitution
and on human rights of women in prostitution, crisis intervention services, educational
assistance, and socioeconomic assistance such as sustainable livelihood skills training
and financial support for small-scale businesses, among others;

din prostitution. The

(b) Identify and, if necessary, create centres in strategic places all over the
Philippines that well provide health services, including counselling and therapy,
temporary shelters and other crisis intervention services to persons exploited in
prostitution. The rape crisis centres established under Republic Act No. 8505 and the

Ht


hospital-based protection units for women and children may also serve as centres
servicing persons exploited in prostitution. Each centre shall establish a network of
health care and other services providers to address the needs of persons exploited in
prostitution;

{c) Ensure that units are created within relevant government agencies,
particularly composing the Council that shall focus on addressing prostitution and the
needs of persons exploited in prostitution. This shall include units within the National
Prosecution Service Offices in local government units that shall specifically focus on the
prosecution of offenders under this Act; :

(d) Ensure that relevant government agencies work in close coordination with
each other in addressing prostitution and the needs of persons exploited in prostitution;

(e) Develop and implement a training program for law enforcers, public
prosecutors, judges, government lawyers, government heath care providers, social
workers and barangay officials that aims to increase their understanding of prostitution
as a system, and equip them with the perspective and skills to appropriately address the
needs of persons exploited in prostitution, respect, protect, promote their human rights,
and pursue the prosecution of offenders;

(f) Ensure that local counterparts of the Task Force are created in every
municipality, city, and province; and

(g) Promulgate, when necessary, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation and enforcement of this Act.

SECTION 19. Mandatory Services to Victims of Prostitution. - To ensure healing,
recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the mainstream society, concerned
government agencies particularly the mebers of the Anti-Prostitution Council, shall make
the following services available to victims of prostitutior

(a) Counsellin

(b) Free legal services which shall include information about the victims rights,
the procedure for filling complaints, claiming compensation and other legal remedies
to them;

(c) Emergency shelter or appropriate housing;
(d) Medical or psychological services; and

{e) Livelihood and skills training.


I-based protection units for women and children may also serve as centres
servicing persons exploited in prostitution. Each centre shall establish a network of
health care and other services providers to address the needs of persons exploited in

prostitution;

(c) Ensure that units are created within relevant government agencies,
particularly composing the Council that shall focus on addressing prostitution and the
needs of persons exploited in prostitution. This shall include units within the National
Prosecution Service Offices in local government units that shall specifically focus on the
prosecution of offenders under this Act; :

(d) Ensure that relevant government agencies work in close coordination with
‘each other in addressing prostitution and the needs of persons exploited in prostitution;

(e) Develop and implement a training program for law enforcers, public
prosecutors, judges, government lawyers, government heath care providers, social
workers and barangay officials that aims to increase their understanding of prostitution
as a system, and equip them with the perspective and skills to appropriately address the
needs of persons exploited in prostitution, respect, protect, promote their human rights,
and pursue the prosecution of offenders;

(f) Ensure that local counterparts of the Task Force are created in every
municipality, city, and province; and

(g) Promulgate, when necessary, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation and enforcement of this Act.

SECTION 19. Mandatory Services to Victims of Prostitution. - To ensure healing,
recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the mainstream society, concerned
government agencies particularly the mebers of the Anti-Prostitution Council, shall make
the following services available to victims of prostitution:

(a) Counselling;

(b) Free legal services which shall include information about the victim's rights,
the procedure for filling complaints, claiming compensation and other legal remedies
to them;

(c) Emergency shelter or appropriate housing;
(d) Medical or psychological services; and

(e) Livelihood and skills training.

1G


SECTION 20. Appropriation. The amount necessary to carry out the provision of this Act
is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year
following the enactment of this law and very year thereafter.

All government units are likewise mandated to allot not less than five (5%)
percent of their gender and development (GAD) budget and not less than five (5%)
percent of the local development fund of local government units (LGUs) for programs,
projects and activities aimed to control prostitution activities their jurisdiction.

SECTION 21. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue in full
force and effect

SECTION 22. Suppletory Application. The provision of the Revised Penal Code shall have
suppletory application to this Act.

SECTION 23. Repealing Clause. Articles 202 and 341 of the Revised Penal Code are
hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders,
ordinances and rules inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 24, Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least (2) two national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,