Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. __ 
_ 
________________________ 
, _____________ , ______ _ 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO "ERNIX" M. DIONISIO, JR. 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGA Y COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF 
CHILDREN (BCPC) IN THE PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF STREET 
CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under our 1987 Constitution, it is the policy of the State to "defend the 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." 
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there are 
approximately 250,000 children who live on the streets.1 Their exposure and vulnerability to 
dangers involving their health and overall well-being should be a waking call for more 
measures to protect and safeguard them. 
This proposed bill seeks to strengthen the Barangay Council for the Protection of 
Children (BCPC) in ensuring that street children are afforded the protection and care they 
rightfully deserve, in compliance with the policy of the State under our Constitution. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is sought. 
____, 
. 
TO "ERNIX" M. DIONI 10, JR. 
istant Majority Floor Leader 
Congressman 
First Congressional District of Manila 
1 https://mb.com.ph/2019/09/30/de-lima-wants-senate-probe-into-alarming-rise-in-number-of-street-
children/ 
September 27, 2022
11:25 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. __ 
_ 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO "ERNIX" M. DIONISIO, JR. 
-----------------·-----------
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE BARANGAY COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF 
CHILDREN (BCPC) IN THE PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF STREET 
CHILDREN, 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 "Street Children 
Protection Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the declared policy of the 
State to defend the right of children to protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, 
cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development. To this end, 
the State shall enact measures to ensure that children's welfare is promoted by 
keeping them from the streets and thus encouraging their growth and development. 
SECTION 3. Definition. - The term "street children" shall refer to children 
under the age of eighteen (18) years who spend a large percentage of their time living, 
working, and playing on the street. They are further classified into the following groups: 
(a) Children on the street- children who spend the majority of their time on the 
street for livelihood but return to their family home or residence on a regular 
basis; 
(b) Children of the street - children who spend the majority of their time living, 
playing and working on the street, but seldom return to their family home or 
residence, or not at all. They generally do not attend school, and have 
decided to live on the streets due to problems at home which include 
extreme poverty, violence, or substance abuse; 
(c) Abandoned and neglected children - children who are on the streets with 
no family or no known relatives or have been abandoned or neglected by, 
or displaced from their families or relatives; and 
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(d) Children of street families- children who live with their families on the street 
or are considered homeless for long periods of time and who earn their 
livelihood on the streets. 
SECTION 4. Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). -
The BCPC shall have the following members: 
(a) Punong Barangay; 
(b) Barangay Kagawad (Chairperson on Women and Family); 
(c) Barangay Nutrition Scholar; 
(d) Barangay Day Care Worker; 
(e) Barangay Health Nurse/ Midwife; 
(f) Barangay Health Worker; 
(g) Department of Education (DepEd) Principal/Teacher-in-charge; 
(h) Chief Tanod; 
(i) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson; 
0) Parents-Teachers 
Association 
(PTA) 
President 
or 
authorized 
representative; and 
(k) Two (2) representatives from a Non-Government Organization (NGO) 
concerned with the welfare of children and youth. 
Upon assumption of office, the Punong Barangay is hereby mandated to 
convene the BCPC. The election of the BCPC Chairperson shall be held at the first 
meeting of the council. 
SECTION 5. Roles and Functions of the BCPC. - In addition to its functions, 
the BCPC shall perform the following functions: 
(a) Coordinate with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and such other 
government agencies, instrumentalities as well as NGOs in drawing and 
implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare, particularly 
on issues concerning street children; 
(b) Monitor the existence of street children in their respective communities; 
(c) Prepare a report on the number of street children in its respective area of 
responsibility, discussing every case in full detail, including a brief history of 
how the child had been forced to spend most of the child's time on the 
streets. The said report shall be submitted to the ewe and the DSWD, 
including the local Social Welfare Department of its respective city or 
municipality; 
(d) Prepare an intervention plan for each of the case, which should be 
specifically based on the peculiarity of the circumstances of each child; and 
(e) Coordinate with the local government unit and NGOs promoting the welfare 
of street children. 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
and the DWSD in consultation with other government agencies and instrumentalities 
as well as NGOs shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the 
implementation of this Act. 


SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of 
this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - AH laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, 
and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official 
Gazette. 
Approved,