Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our 1987 Philippine Constitution is clear in its directive which is to defend that “right of 
children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms 
of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.” 
This proposed bill addresses the best interests of the child which is always the primary concern 
of the State. Youth population now is massive that necessitates additional consideration and 
support from the government in order to guide them into having proper values and to protect 
them against unfortunate abuses. The creation of provisions for child witness protection, truancy 
operations center and reformatory centers are geared towards protecting children being a 
“vulnerable” sector and instill in them honesty, integrity, diligence and service to the nation. 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Adolescent and 
School Health, through positive youth development programs a young person’s sense of identity, 
belief in the future, self-regulation, and self-efficacy as well as their social, emotional, cognitive 
and behavioral competence is strengthened.1 This legislation will strike a balance on both the 
youth and its parents as the latter also will face disciplinary penalties. In this way, every citizen 
learns to be accountable and responsible either as a parent or as a child. 
The urgent approval of this proposed bill is hereby requested to timely support and 
revolutionize the Filipino youth. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
1 https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/safe-supportive-environments/positive-youth-development.htm 
November 5, 2021
7:53 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA R. SALVADOR-TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE YOUTH SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – Section 13 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution 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. It mandates the State 
to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public 
and civic affairs. Section 3(2) of Article XV of the 1987 Constitution meanwhile mandates the 
State to defend that “right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and 
special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions 
prejudicial to their development.” 
Children are the principal citizens of the country. The best interest of the child is the primordial 
and paramount concern of the State. They stand at the center of Philippine nation building and 
are the most important assets of the nation. Thus, the Constitution and the laws must be 
implemented, sufficient budget be allocated, and a holistic program be employed to promote the 
welfare of the children and enhance their opportunities in life. 
No child should be at risk of being in conflict with the law. It is therefore the policy of the State 
to focus on the fundamental problems facing the youth, namely, poverty, poor education, lack of 
proper support and guidance, among others. Children must be taught the values of responsibility, 
respect for the common good, honesty, integrity, diligence and service to the nation.  
SEC. 2. Truancy Officers. – There shall be, in every barangay, a Truancy Officer that shall be 
designated by the Punong Barangay from among the members of the Sangguniang Barangay. 
There are shall be one (1) Truancy Officer for every one thousand (1,000) re idents in barangay.  
Truancy officers shall have the primary responsibility of ensuring that minors of age attend school. 
They shall conduct regular home and school visits to ensure the child's school attendance and 
shall submit daily reports indicating dates of absences, contacts with parents, and other relevant 
information, to the Truancy Monitoring Center established in Section 3 of this Act. 
10448


“Truancy” as here used means absence without cause for more than five (5) schooldays in a 
month, not necessarily consecutive. The Truancy Officer shall refer the child who is considered 
truant to the Barangay Social Welfare and Development Officer for placement to any child-caring 
or child-placing institution licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) to implement the foster care program, or to a person registered with the 
DSWD who is available to provide foster care. 
 
SEC. 3. Establishment of a Truancy Operations Center. – The Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) shall establish a Truancy Operations Center that shall be the 
centralized information management system regarding the school attendance of children and the 
reports of Truancy Officer. 
 
The Center Hall shall ensure a recordation of all pertinent information, such as age, residence, 
school, and school attendance of all children on a daily basis. The Center shall coordinate with 
the Department of Justice for the purpose of filing criminal cases against parents or guardians 
who violate Section 59 of the Presidential Decree No. 603 and other relevant laws. 
 
SEC. 4. Increase in the number of guidance counselors in schools. – To ensure the 
children's well-being, and academic, behavioral and social growth, there shall be, in every public 
and private elementary and high school, at least three (3) guidance counselors each for every 
elementary school, including kindergarten.  
 
Guidance counselors shall have the primary responsibility of counseling, assisting, teaching and 
practicing of guidance and counseling subjects, and other human development services to 
children.  
 
SEC. 5. Barangay Social Welfare and Development Officer. – There shall be, in every 
barangay, a Barangay Social Welfare and Development Officer whose primary duty includes 
house-to-house visitations, counseling, child rights education, and helping the youth, families and 
the community develop, improve, maintain or rest re their capability for coping with the demands 
of their environment, through the use of social work methods and interventions. In the absence 
of a duly-registered Social Worker who shall act as Barangay Social Welfare and Development 
Officer, persons with training in social work may be employed. They shall be under the supervision 
of the local social welfare and development officer. 
 
The Barangay Social Welfare Officers shall be considered employees of the barangay and shall 
draw their salaries and other benefits therefrom. 
 
SEC. 6. School-Based Feeding Program. – To encourage attendance in schools, there is 
hereby established under the Department of Education a Comprehensive and School-Based 
National Feeding Program for all day care, kindergarten, elementary and high schools in the 
country. The program shall include the provision of at least one (1) meal per student per day, or 
two (2) meals per day for undernourished children, for a period of 208 days per school year.  
Food donations to school hall also be considered as donations of apparently wholesome food for 
charitable purposes and will be governed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 
9803. 
 


SEC. 7. Schools Dentists and Nurses. – There shall be at least one (1) nurse and one (1) 
dentist for every two hundred fifty (250) students in every elementary and high school, whether 
public or private. The school dentists shall be considered employees of the city or municipality 
where the school is situated, and shall draw their salaries and other benefits therefrom. 
 
SEC. 8. Child Witness Protection Program. – The Department of Justice, in coordination with 
the DSWD, shall establish a child witness assistance program that shall support children and their 
families throughout criminal proceedings. Guidance counselor and barangay social welfare and 
development officer shall also assist children who volunteer as witnesses in crimes they have 
witnessed or have information about.  
 
SEC. 9. Juvenile Reformatory Centers. – The Department of Social Welfare and 
Development, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, shall 
establish, fund, and manage 24-hour child-caring institution providing residential care for children 
in conflict with the law who commits parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping and serious illegal 
detention where the victim is killed or raped, robbery with homicide or rape, destructive arson, 
rap , or carnapping where the driver or occupant is killed or raped or offenses under Republic Act 
o. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) punishable by more than twelve (12) 
years of imprisonment.  
 
Each Juvenile Reformatory Center shall contain facilities such as gyms, libraries, and vocational-
technical training shops. 
 
SEC. 10. Increased penalties for parental liability. Article 60 of Presidential Decree o. 603 is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“Article 60. Penalty. – The act mentioned in the preceding article shall (be punishable with 
imprisonment from two or six month or a fine not exceeding five hundred pesos, or both, 
at the discretion of the Court, unless a higher penalty is provided for in the R vised Penal 
Code or special laws, without prejudice to actions for the involuntary commitment of the 
child under Title VIII of this Code) SUFFER THE PENALTY OF PRISION 
CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD TO PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS 
MAXIMUM PERIOD.” 
 
SEC. 11. Section 20-C of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
as follows: 
 
“SEC. 20-C. Exploitation of Children for Commission of Crimes. – Any person, INCLUDING THE 
PARENT OF CHILD, who, in the commission of a crime, makes use, takes advantage of, or 
profits from the use of children, including any person who abuses his/her authority over the child 
or who, with abuse of confidence, takes advantage of the vulnerabilities of the child and shall 
induce, threaten or instigate the commission of the crime, shall be imposed the penalty 
[prescribed by law for the crime committed in its maximum period] OF RECLUSION 
PERPETUA , IF THE CRIME COMMITTED ISPUNISHABLE BY IMPRISOMENT OF 
MORE THAN SIX (6) YEARS, AND RECLUSION TEMPORAL, IF THE CRIME COMMITTED 
IS PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT OF SIX (6) YEARS OR LESS THE FACT THAT THE 
PERSON WHO EXPLOITED THE CHILD FOR THE COMMISION OF CRIMES IS A PUBLIC 
OFFICER SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS A GENERIC AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.” 


 
SEC. 12. Information Campaign. Within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the Department of 
Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice and the Juvenile 
Justice and Welfare Council, shall undertake an extensive information campaign to explain 
children's rights, as well as the concomitant duties of parents or guardians, the community, and 
the government. 
 
SEC. 13. Section 49 of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
as follows: 
 
“SEC. 49. Establishment of 'Bahay Pag-Asa'. - [Each province and highly-urbanized city (the LGU)] 
THE DSWD shall be responsible for building, funding and operating a 'Bahay Pag-asa' 
[within their jurisdiction] following the standards that will be set by the DSWD and adopted by 
the JJWC. THE ALLOCATIONS NECESSARY FOR BUILDING, FUNDING AND OPERATING 
THE ‘BAHAY PAG-ASA’ SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET OF THE DSWD IN THE 
ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT. 
 
EVERY ‘BAHAY PAG-ASA’ SHALL CONTAIN FACILITIES SUCH AS GYMS, LIBRARIES, 
AND VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL TRAINING SHOPS, AND SHALL HAVE PROGRAMS FOR 
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING OR EDUCATION PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARDS VALUES 
FORMATION, CULTURAL AWARENESS, READING, AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. 
PROVIDED THAT CHILDREN WHO NO DOT POSE A RISK TO THE COMMUNITY MAY BE 
ALLOWED TO ATTEND SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THE BAHAY PAG-ASA TO WHICH THE 
CHILD IS COMMITTED. 
 
A CHILD COMMITTED TO A BAHAY PAG-ASA, MAY BE RELEASED TO THE CHILD’S 
PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR FOSTER PARENT UPON ORDER BY A COURT AND AFTER A 
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OR THE DSWD. IN THE LATTER CASE. THE DEPARTMENT OF 
SOCIAL WELFARE MAY REFUSE TO DISCHARGE THE CHILD IF, IN ITS OPINION HIS 
RELEASE WOULD BE PREJUDICIAL TO HIM OR TO THE COMMUNITY. 
 
[Every 'Bahay Pag-asa' will have a special facility called the IJISC. This Center will be allocated 
for children in conflict with the law in accordance with Sections 20, 20-A and 20-B hereof. 
 
These children will be required to undergo a more intensive multi-disciplinary intervention 
program. The JJWC in partnership with, but not limited to, the DSWD, the DOH, the DepED and 
the DILG, will develop and set the standards for the implementation of the multidisciplinary 
intervention program of the IJISC. Upon institutionalization of the IJISC program, the JJWC will 
continue to monitor and provide technical assistance to the multi-disciplinary teams operating the 
said centers.]” 
 
SEC. 14. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
as follows: 
 
“SEC. 20. Children Below the Age of Criminal Responsibility. – If it has been determined that the 
child taken into custody is fifteen (15) years old or below, the authority which will have an initial 


contact with the child, in consultation with the local social welfare and development officer, has 
the duty to immediately release the child to the custody of his/her parents or guardian, or in the 
absence thereof, the child's nearest relative. The child shall be subjected to a community-based 
intervention program supervised by the [local] BARANGAY social welfare and development 
officer, unless the best interest of the child requires the referral of the child to a [youth care 
facility or 'Bahay Pag-asa' managed by LGUs or licensed and/or accredited GOs monitored by the 
DSWD] ANY CHILD-CARING INSTITUTION LICENSED AND ACCREDITED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) TO IMPLEMENT THE 
FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, OR TO A PERSON DULY REGISTERED WITH THE DSWD WHO 
IS WILLING TO PROVIDE FOSTER CARE. 
 
NO CHILD UNDER SEVEN YEARS OF AGE SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE MOTHER, 
UNLESS THE LATTER IS UNFIT. GIVING CUSTODY OF CHILD TO THE PARENTS, 
GUARDIANS OR NEAREST RELATIVES SHALL BE CONSIDERED NOT TO BE IN THE 
BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD IN THE CHILD’S PARENTS, GUARDIANS OR NEAREST 
RELATIVES: (1) ARE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO 
PROVIDE THE CHILD WITH ADEQUATE CARE; (2) ARE ENGAGED IN DRUG ADDICTION 
OR HABITUAL ALCOHOLISM; (3) TREAT THE CHILD WITH EXCESSIVE HARSHNESS OR 
CRUELTY; (4) IMPROPERLY EXPLOIT THE CHILD; OR ANY OTHER ANALOGOUS 
CIRCUMSTANCES. 
 
THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN MAY ALSO BE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE: 
a) A CHILD WHO IS ABANDONED, SURRENDERED, NEGLECTED, DEPENDENT OR 
ORPHANED; 
b) A CHILD WHO IS VICTIM OF SEXUAL, PHYSICAL., OR ANY OTHER FORM OF 
ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION; 
c) A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS; 
d) A CHILD WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY 
UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THE CHILD WITH ADEQUATE CARE; 
e) A CHILD AWAITING ADOPTIVE PLACEMENTAND WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE 
PREPARED FOR FAMILY LIFE 
f) A CHILD WHO NEED LONG-TERM CARE AND CLOSE FAMILY TIES BUT WHO 
CANNOT BE PLACED FOR DOMESTIC ADOPTION; 
g) A CHILD WHOSE ADOPTION HAS BEEN DISRUPTED; 
h) A CHILD WHO IS UNDER SOCIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS, BUT 
NOT LIMITED TO, A STREET CHILD, A CHILD IN ARMED CONFLICT OR A VICTIM 
OF CHILD LABOR OR TRAFFICKING. 
i) A CHILD WHO COMMITTED MINOR OFFENSE BUT IS RELEASED ON 
RECOGNIZANCE, OR WHO IS IN CUSTODY SUPERVISION OR WHOSE CASE IS 
DISMISSED; AND 
j) A CHILD WHO IS IN NEED OF SPECIAL PROTECTION AS ASSESSED BY A SOCIAL 
WORKER, AN AGENCY OR THE DSWD. 
 
The [local] BARANGAY social welfare and development officer shall determine the appropriate 
programs for the child who has been released, in consultation with the child and the person 
having custody over the child. If the parents, guardians or nearest relatives cannot be located, 
or if they refuse to take custody, the child may be released to any of the following:  
a) A duly registered nongovernmental or religious organization; 


b) A barangay official or a member of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children 
(BCPC); 
c) A local social welfare and development officer; [or, when and where appropriate, the 
DSWD.] 
d) A FOSTER PARENT; OR 
e) WHEN AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE DSWD. 
 
If the child has been found by the [local] BARANGAY social welfare and development officer to 
be dependent, abandoned, neglected or abused by his/her parents and the best interest of the 
child requires that he/she be placed in [a youth care facility or 'Bahay Pag-asa'] ANY CHILD-
CARING INSTITUTION LICENSED AND ACCREDITED BY THE DSWD TO IMPLEMENT 
THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, OR TO A PERSON DULY REGISTERED WITH THE 
DSWD WHO IS WILLING TO PROVIDE FOSTER CARE, the child's parents or guardians shall 
execute a written authorization for the voluntary commitment of the child: Provided, That if the 
child has no parents or guardians or if they refuse or fail to execute the written authorization for 
voluntary commitment, the proper petition for involuntary commitment shall be immediately filed 
by the DSWD or the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) pursuant to 
Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, otherwise known as “The Child and Youth Welfare 
Code” and the Supreme Court rule on commitment of children: Provided, further, That the 
minimum age for children committed to a youth care facility or 'Bahay Pag-asa' shall be twelve 
(12) years old.” 
 
SEC. 15. Section 20-A of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
as follows: 
 
"SEC. 20-A. Serious Crimes Committed by Children [Who Are Exempt From Criminal 
Responsibility. – A child who is above twelve (12) years of age up to fifteen (15) years of age and 
who commits parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention where the 
victim is killed or raped, robbery with homicide or rape, destructive arson, rape, or carnapping 
where the driver or occupant is killed or raped or offenses under Republic Act No. 9165 
(Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) punishable by more than twelve (12) years of 
imprisonment, shall be deemed a neglected child under Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, 
and shall be mandatorily placed in a [special facility within the youth care facility or 'Bahay Pag-
asa' called the Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (IJISC)] JUVENILE 
REFORMATORY CENTER. 
 
In accordance with existing laws, rules, procedures and guidelines, the proper petition for 
involuntary commitment and placement under [the IJISC] JUVENILE REFORMATORY 
CENTER shall be filed by the local social welfare and development officer of the LGU where the 
offense was committed, or by the DSWD social worker in the local social welfare and development 
officer's absence OR INABILITY, within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the receipt of 
a report on the alleged commission of said child. The court, where the petition for involuntary 
commitment has been filed shall decide on the petition within seventy-two (72) hours from the 
time the said petition has been filed by the DSWD/LSWDO. The court will determine the initial 
period of placement of the child within the [IJISC] JUVENILE REFORMATORY CENTER which 
shall not be less than one (1) year. The multi-disciplinary team of the [IJISC] JUVENILE 
REFORMATORY CENTER will submit to the court a case study and progress report, to include 
a psychiatric evaluation report and recommend the reintegration of the child to his/her family or 


the extension of the placement under the [IJISC] JUVENILE REFORMATORY CENTER. The 
multi-disciplinary team will also submit a report to the court on the services extended to the 
parent and family of the child and the compliance of the parents in the intervention program. The 
court will decide whether the child has successfully completed the center-based intervention 
program and is already prepared to be reintegrated with his/her family or if there is a need for 
the continuation of the center-based rehabilitation of the child. The court will determine the next 
period of assessment or hearing on the commitment of the child.” 
 
SEC. 16. Section 20-B of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
as follows: 
“SEC. 20-B. Repetition of Offenses. – A child who is above twelve (12) years of age up to 
fifteen (15) years of age and who commits an offense for the second time or oftener [: 
Provided, That the child was previously subjected to a community based intervention 
program, shall be deemed a neglected child under Presidential Decree No. 603, as 
amended, and shall undergo an intensive intervention program supervised by the local 
social welfare and development officer: Provided, further, That, if the best interest of the 
child r quires that he/she be placed in a youth care facility or] SHALL BE PLACED IN A 
CHILD-CARING INSTITUTION LICENSED AND ACCREDITED BY THE DSWD TO 
IMPLEMENT THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, OR TO A PERSON DULY 
REGISTERED WITH THE DSWD WHO IS WILLING TO PROVIDE FOSTER CARE. 
HOWEVER, IF THE CHILD IS ALREADY IN THE CARE OF SUCH CHILD-CARING 
INSTITUTION OR FOSTER PARENT, THEN THE CHILD SHALL BE TRANSFERRED 
TO ANOTHER CHILD-CARING INSTITUTION OR FOSTER PARENT. THE CHILD 
SHALL UNDERGO REGULAR EVALUATIONS BY THE BARANGAY SOCIAL 
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. IF THE LATTER DETERMINES IN A 
COMPREHENSIVE 
STUDY 
THAT 
THE 
CHILD’S 
INTEREST 
REQUIRED 
COMMITMENT TO A BAHAY PAG-ASA, THEN THE CHILD SHALL BE SO 
COMMITTED [‘Bahay Pag-asa’, the child’s parents or guardians shall execute a written 
authorization for the voluntary commitment of the child: Provided, finally, That if the child 
has no parent or guardians or if they refuse or fail to execute the written authorization for 
voluntary commitment, the proper petition for involuntary commitment shall be 
immediately filed by the DSWD or the LSWDO pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 603, 
as amended].” 
 
SEC. 17. Section 20-D of Republic Act o. 9344, as amended, is further amended to read, as 
follows: 
 
“SEC. 20-D. Joint Parental Responsibility. - Based on the recommendation of the multi-
disciplinary team of the [IJISC] BAHAY PAG-ASA, the LSWDO or the DSWD, the court may 
require the parents of a child in conflict with the law to undergo counseling or any other 
intervention that, in the opinion of the court, would advance the welfare and best interest 
of the child. 
 
As used in this Act, 'parents' shall mean any of the following: 
a) Biological parents of the child; or 
b) Adoptive parents of the child; or 
c) Individuals who have custody of the child[.]; OR 
d) A DULY REGISTERED FOSTER PARENT. 


 
A court exercising jurisdiction over a child in conflict with the law may require the 
attendance of one or both parents of the child at the place where the proceedings are to 
be conducted.  
 
The parents hall be PRIMARILY liable for CIVIL damages ARISING OUT OF 
THE ACTIONS OF THE CHILD IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW unless they prove, to 
the satisfaction of the court, that they were exercising reasonable supervision over the 
child at the time the child committed the offense and exerted reasonable effort and utmost 
diligence to prevent or di courage the child from committing another offense.” 
 
SEC. 18. Section 43 of Republic Act No. 9344 is hereby amended to read, as follows: 
 
“SEC. 43. Confidentiality of Records and Proceedings. – All records and proceedings 
involving children in conflict with the law from initial contact until final disposition of the 
case shall be considered privileged and confidential. The public shall be excluded during 
the proceedings and the records shall not be disclosed directly or indirectly to anyone by 
any of the parties or the participants in the proceedings for any purpose whatsoever, 
except to determine if the child in conflict with the law may have his/her sentence 
suspended or if he/she may be granted probation under the Probation Law, or to enforce 
the civil liability imposed in the criminal action. 
 
The component authorities shall undertake all measures to protect this confidentiality of 
proceedings, including non-disclosure of records to the media, maintaining a separate 
police blotter for cases involving children in conflict with the law and adopting a system 
of coding to conceal material information which will lead to the child's identity. [Records] 
THE CRIMINAL RECORDS of a child in conflict with the law shall, after undergoing a 
community-based intervention program, or being committed to a Bahay Pag-Asa or 
Juvenile Reformatory Center SHALL BE EXPUNGED AND not be used in subsequent 
proceedings for cases involving the same offender as an adult [, except when beneficial 
for the offender and upon his/her written consent].  
 
A person who has been in conflict with the law as a child shall not be held under any 
provision of law, to be guilty of perjury or of concealment or misrepresentation by reason 
of his/her failure to acknowledge the case or recite any fact related thereto in response 
to any inquiry made to him/her for any purpose.” 
 
SEC. 19. Section 63 of Republic Act No. 9344, as amended, is hereby further amended to read, 
as follows: 
“SEC. 63. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged against the current years appropriations of the JJWC under the budget 
of the Department of Justice. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the DSWD under 
the annual General Appropriations Act: Provided, That the amount of Four hundred million 
pesos (P 400,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the construction of 'Bahay Pag-asa' 
rehabilitation centers in provinces or cities with high incidence of children in conflict with 
the law to be determined and identified by the DSWD and the JJWC on a priority basis: 


Provided, further, That the said amount shall be coursed through the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH) for its proper implementation.  
 
The LGUs concerned shall make available, from its own resources or assets, their 
counterpart share equivalent to the national government contribution of Five million pesos 
(P5,000,000.00) per rehabilitation center.  
 
In addition, the Council may accept donations, grants and contributions from various 
sources, in cash or in kind, for purposes relevant to its functions, subject to the usual 
government accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
 
EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL SET ASIDE FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF 
ITS SHARE OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT TO FUND THE PROGRAMS 
UNDER THIS ACT AND OTHER RELEVANT LAWS.” 
 
SEC. 20. Congressional Oversight. – There is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight 
Committee to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of this Act and other related 
laws. The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and 
from the House of Representatives, including the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on 
Justice and Human Rights, to act as Chairperson of the Senate Panel, and the House 
Committee on Justice, to act as Chairperson of the House Panel. The membership of the 
Committee for every House shall have at least one (1) minority member.  
 
The Oversight Committee shall conduct a mandatory review of this Act every three (3) years from 
its approval.  
 
The DSWD and the Department of Education are required to report to the Oversight Committee, 
copy furnished the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on a 
monthly basis relevant data on school enrollment.  
 
SEC. 21. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, such 
sections or parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repeal d or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 23. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,