SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
of I l K p ' r n  I’t iry
'16 
JUL 21 
P3 -26
SENATE
s.No. 849
l O
v C
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Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF STREET CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING THE 
BARANGAY COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (BCPC) AND 
ESTABLISHING AN INCENTIVES SYSTEM FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF STREET CHILDREN, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
Our Constitution mandates the State to defend the riglit of children to assistanee, 
including proper care and nutrition, and speeial proteetion from all forms of neglect, abuse, 
eruelty, exploitation and other eonditions prejudieial to their development. This provision of our 
supreme law illustrates the parens patriae concept or the power of the state to aet as the parent of 
any child or individual who is in need of protection.
This constitutional mandate has spawned a number of legislation aimed at shielding our 
children against most forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. However, the inadequacy of our 
laws becomes apparent in the case of street ehildren, which continue to be a large societal blot in 
our efforts to safeguard the welfare of the youth. Estimates by the Couneil for the Welfare of 
Children (CWC) reveal that there are around 250,000 street children in the country1. The number 
could be more at present and no single government program seems to address the problem 
effectively.
It is in this area where the parens patriae eoncept in which the State aets as parent fails 
miserably. It is our contention that in this case, if the State alone cannot ensure the welfare of our 
children, particularly those who roam our streets, the private sector can be tapped to address a 
seemingly gargantuan social strain. According to ChildHope Asia Foundation, one of the leading 
NGOs eoneemed on children welfare and protection, majority of street ehildren still go home to 
poor eommunities within a barangay. Thus, this bill aims to strengthen the Barangay Couneil for 
the Proteetion of Children (BCPC)2 organized under Presidential Deeree (PD) 603 as a 
preventive approach for the purpose of eliminating the presenee of street children in our cities 
and municipalities.
Aptly entitled the “Street Children Welfare Act of 2016,” the bill also provides 
incentives to private individuals, eorporations, non-governmental organizations or entities that 
offer much-needed facilities or services aimed at providing our street children short- and long- 
tenn refuge against the harsh realities of the streets, including donations to such endeavors. It
See Situation of the Filipino Children”, 2012, Council for the Welfare of Children. Accessed at www.cwc.gov.ph on March II, 2013 (no 
update of the study yet to date).
2 B.^PC 
a coun=l1 organized under PD 603 with mandate to draw and implement plans and programs for the promotion of child and youth 
weHare. The mandate does not include addressing problems of the community on street children, hence, this bill will provide for an additional 
responsibility for the BCPC. PD 603 provides a generic composition of the BCPC, stating that members shall be from among the responsible 
members of the community, with representatives from the youth, government and private agencies concerned with the welfare of children and 
youth.