Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2556

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM
FOR THE YOUTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the U.S. Department of

State the Philippines remains to be a Tier 2 country, meaning that our government has yet 10

meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. In 2014, the Department of
Social Welfare and Development reported assisting 1,824 human trafficking victims nationwide
‘This official statistic is most likely a mere fraction of the actual number which includes

unreported cases. These crimes often go unreported because victims lack information on human

trafficking, and the families of victims accept the situation as normal,

Human trafficking in all of its forms, including forced labor and sexual exploitation, is a
crime fundamentally repugnant to the values of the State and the basic dignity and rights of the
Filipino. The lack of understanding and awareness of human trafficking continues to facilitate a
culture of impunity for the perpetrators, and a burden of injustice for the victims. The Stat must
assume a larger role in stopping trafficking at its source - by educating potential victims about

the dangers of trafficking and instructing them on how to seek protection from the government

Our children are some of the most vulnerable victims of trafficking. Domestically, there
are 2.2 million child labourers between the ages of 15-17, many of whom are engaged in
hazardous unskilled working environments. Some children work in virtual slavery in the
informal employment sector as domestic helpers. Others are exploited for prostitution and
pornography, while children in war-torn areas with communist and Moro separatist movements

are easy targets for forced conscription into the armed movements.

In order to empower the youth against the scourge of human trafficking, this legislation


seeks to create a comprehensive Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program. ‘The
Program will arm members of the youth sector from all walks of life with the information they
need to protect themselves from becoming victims of trafficking. In addition, the Program will
institute grassroots reporting mechanisms to empower community members to take a stand
against human trafficking with decisive action against the heinous criminals who seek to

degrade our most fundamental human rights.

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In view of the foregoing, the passage and approval of this legislation is earnestly so

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2556

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

AN ACT
VABLISHING A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR
THE YOUTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Human Trafficking Preventive
Education Program Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to protect the youth
from human trafficking and other crimes fundamentally detrimental to their development and
wellbeing. The State shall enhance the knowledge of the youth of their basic rights and promote their
vigilance against human traffickers by providing preventive education to teach them about the dangers

of human trafficking in its various forms.

SEC. 3. Preventive Education Program. - The Inter-Agency Council Against ‘Traffickin,

(Council) shall facilitate the establishment of a Human Trafficking Preventive Education Progra

‘The Program shall accomplish the following objectives:

a) Bducate the youth about fundamental rights concerning Jabor and employment, liberiy
human security, as well as other essential rights;

b) Orient the youth about the dangers of international and domestic human trafficking in its
various forms including but not limited to illegal recruitment, unfair labor practices
involuntary servitude, sexual exploitation and prostitution, and child labor;

©) Provide the youth with information on services provided by government agencies and non-
governmental organizations to aid and protect victims of human trafficking, and;

d) Identify members of the youth who have been, or are currently victims of human trafficking

and refer them to the proper agency or organization for protection and rehabilitation

The Program shall have a school-based component and a community- based component


SEC. 4. School-Based Program. - The Council, in cooperation with the Department of
Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, shall implement a School-Based Program to accomplish the objectives stated
in Section 3 of this Act. The School-Based Program shall cover all students enrolled in junior high

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schools, senior high schools, colleges and universities, and technical or vocational education prog

‘The school principal, college or university president, or technical school head shall be

responsible for the following

a) Facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Program in his or her educational
institution;

b) Assign guidance counsellors or equivalent support staff to identify and protect human
trafficking victims and at-risk students, and;

c) Establish a safe and proactive human trafficking reporting mechanism which allows members
of the school community to report suspected or confirmed cases of human trafficking within

the school.

SEC. 5. Community-Based Program. - The Council, in cooperation with the Council for the
Welfare of Children (CWC), shall implement a Community- Based Program to accomplish the
objectives stated in Section 3 of this Act. The Community-Based Program shall cover all out-of-school

youth in the Philippines, and it shall be implemented at the barangay level.

The Chairman of the various Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC) of the
CWC shall be responsible for the following:

a) Facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Program in their respective
barangays;

b) Assign guidance counsellors, social workers, or equivalent staff to identify and protect human
trafficking victims and at-risk out-of-school youth, and;

lish a safe and proactive human trafficking reporting mechanism which allows barangay

residents to report suspected cases of human trafficking within the community.

SEC. 6. Youth in Conflict-Afflicted Areas - The Council shall prioritize the implementation of

the Program in conflict-afflicted areas, with special emphasis on human trafficking practices

commonly perpetrated in contlict-afflicted areas.

SEC. 7. Accountability Measures - The head of the educational institution and the Chairman of
the BCPC, as the case may be, shall submit to the Council a bi-annual progress report on the

implementation and outcomes of the Program in their respective jurisdictions.

Failure to ensure faithful implementation of the Program consistent with the provisions of this

‘Act shall result in administrative sanctions for the Institution Head or Chairman, as the case may be,

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subject to due process and the provisions of applicable laws, rules, and regulations

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) is
hereby initially appropriated to implement the provisions of this Act. Thereafter, such amount
necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General

Appropriations Act

SEC. 9. Civil Society Participation. - The Council shall endeavour to utilize non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), community stakeholders, and other civil society actors with knowledge and
experience on human trafficking prevention and suppression in the formulation, implementation, and

monitoring of the Program.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within (60) days from the eff

‘Act, the Council, in coordination with the government agencies and entities mentioned in the

tivity of this
provisions of this Act, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary to
ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared unconstitutional, the
rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue to be in effect and subsisting

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly

SEC. 13. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and/or in at least two (2) national newspapers in general circulation.

Approved,