. 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
'SENATE 
S.B. No. 1438 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill mandates the establishment of crisis centers for street children all over the 
country. The rights and welfare of Filipino children are governed by several eXisting 
laws and policies on children such as: 1) RA 7610 also known as the Special Protection 
of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; 2) RA 9231 also 
known as the Act Prohibiting Employment of Children in Hazardous Areas; 3) PD 603 
or the Child and Youth Welfare Code; 4) RA. 9262 or the act Defining Violence against 
Women and their Children; 5) RA 9231 or the Act Providing for the Elimination of the 
Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child; 
6) RA 9344 also known as the Act Establishing a Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and 
Welfare System; and 7) RA 9208 or the Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate Trafficking 
in Persons Especially Women and Children. However to date, there is no specific law 
that addresses the special conditions and needs of street children. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development estimates that there are around 
250,000 street children in 65 cities around the country. Metro Manila alone has about 
85,000 street children as of 2007. Childhope, a non-government organization specifically 
protecting street children, reveals that about 70 percent of these street children most 
visible on the streets are boys. In their study on street children, the following facts were 
provided: 
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• The working street child works from 6 to 16 hours, often in a combination of 
"occupations" . 
• Street children usually come from large families, with six to ten children per family. 
• Street children are generally malnourished and anemic, many of them physically 
stunted. 
• Street children suffer psychologically from undue family pressures, abuses and neglect 
at home. Very often, they develop low self-esteem. 
• Street children are prone to street fights and bullying from bigger youth, harassment 
from policemen, suspicion and arrest for petty crimes, abuse and torture from 
misguided authorities. 
• Street children usually come from broken families. 
• There are more boys than girls. Female children are disadvantaged because of their 
sex; they do more housework and are prone to sexual abuses. 
• Parents of street children are preoccupied with earning a living, of1;entimes engaged in 
irregular low-paying jobs as construction workers, vendors, and scavengers. 
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National and local government agencies, along with non-government organizations, 
work hand in hand in order to uplift the situation of the Filipino street children. 
However, there are numerous needs that have yet to be met. 
Under this bill, the crisis centers to be established in every city or municipality shall 
have a comprehensive program that will provide various services such as temporary 
shelter, emergency medical and feeding programs and basic education. These provision 
.of services shall be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), in close consultation with the local government units concerned. Moreover, 
this measure will assist in providing street children the means to uplift their conditions 
and take them out of the streets through programs that will equip them with livelihood, 
technical and social skills. 
Finally, this proposed measure authorizes the implementing agency to accept donations 
and grants from local and international organizations in order to supplement the 
appropriated funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the street 
children crisis centers. These funds will be distributed accordingly to the various crisis 
centers within the city or municipality. The additional funds will ensure that a higher 
number of street children will be provided the necessary attention and assistance. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
S.B. No. 1438 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
10 
JULi3 P4 :;:1 
ESTABLISHING A CRISIS CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN 
IN ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION 
AND IN EVERY HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Street Children Crisis Center 
Act of 2010." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as policy of the state to 
defend the rights of children to assistance, including the proper care and nutrition, and 
to provide them with special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, 
exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development. 
Towards this end, there is hereby 'established a Crisis Center for Street Children in 
every city or municipality in the National Capital Region and in every highly urbanized 
city in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Such crisis center shall serve as temporary 
shelters and rehabilitation center for the street children. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - "Street Children" shall be defined as those persons 
below 18 years of age and are living in the streets without supervision of adults, 
whether parents, relatives or friends. 
SEC. 4. Program Framework. - There shall be a comprehensive program for the 
street children which the crisis center shall provide. Such program shall include but are 
not limited to the following: 
(a) Emergency medical and feeding services; 
(b) Temporary shelter for street children who have been separated from their respective 
homes and who have been straying'in the streets; 
(c) Basic educational, legal and counsel services; 
(d) Immediate rehabilitation program for street children identified as prohibited 
substance abusers; 
(e) Programs geared towards the acquisition of livelihood, technical, social and other 
related skills which would help the street children become productive members of 
society; 
(f) Support system provided by LGUs; 
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(g) Referral network of assistance consisting of other government agencies; 
(h) Information, education and communication campaign to promote the objectives of 
this Act; and such other functions as may be necessary. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. - The program shall be implemented by 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in close coordination with the 
LGU's concerned. 
The city or municipal officials may call upon private volunteers who are responsible of 
the community and utilize them td assist in the care of street children by providing 
consultative services for medical, educational, and other needs of the street children. 
SEC. 6. Functions of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. - The 
Department shall: 
(a) formulate the criteria for the selection and qualification of street children who shall 
be covered by this Act; 
(b) proVide training for crisis center workers, counselors and other volunteers; 
(c) coordinate activities of non-government organizations with the crisis center workers 
and other social workers of the Department in order that their services may be fully 
utilized for the attainment of the program goals; and, 
(d) protect and assist abused, neglected or exploited children and secure proper 
government assistance for said street children. 
SEC. 7. Funds for the Crisis'Center, Program and Crisis Center Workers. - The 
funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the street children crisis 
center shall be appropriated from the National Budget and shall be included in the 
General Appropriations Act as part of the budget of the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development. 
A portion of the health programs available to the Philippines under official aid or 
official debt arrangements from foreign countries, the amount to be determined by the 
Office of the President, shall be extended in su pport of the crisis centers. 
SEC. 8. Authority to Accept Donations. - The DSWD may accept donations and 
grants, both domestic and foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions of the 
crisis centers. These donations and grants shall be allocated among the various 
crisis center within the city or municipality as my be deemed appropriate. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any portion or provision in this Act be declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any prOVision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, and 
executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This act shall take effect upon its approval and 
completion of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
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