TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 559
lOffii-.' of V.-r ” 
'■
25 JUL 14 P3-.42
RECElVtDSf
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PREVENTING, MITIGATING, AND RESPONDING TO RISKS AFFECTING 
CHILDREN WHILE ON VACATION, ENGAGING IN LEISURE, OR 
PARTICIPATING IN ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE TOURISM 
INDUSTRY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, as an archipelago, is popular for its beaches and other tourist 
destinations. In 2023, the country was hailed as the World's Leading Dive Destination, 
and World's Leading Beach Destination at the World Travel Awards1. According to the 
Department of Tourism ("DOT"), tourism contributed an 8.6 percent share amounting 
to 2.09 trillion pesos to the gross domestic product in 20232. However, visitors to 
tourist destinations - particularly children - face risks associated with accidental 
drownings, jellyfish stings and animal bits, spinal injuries, and infectious diseases while 
on vacation.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority ("PSA"), out of the 3,604 deaths 
by accidental drowning or submersion in 2021,1056 - or roughly a third - of the victims 
were children 1 to 14 years of age. In that year, drowning was the second leading 
cause of death among children 5 to 9 years old.
On October 30, 2023, a 6-year-old Sandy 0. Garovillas succumbed to a box 
jellyfish sting at a resort after failing to receive immediate medical attention due to 
the failure of the resort's staff to provide first aid for the child, difficulties in contacting 
emergency services, and the distance of the resort from health facilities in the locality. 
Due to the absence of trained responders at the resort Sandy and her family were 
staying at, first aid had to be administered by passers-by: a French medical student, 
and a United States Army medic. Pharmacies and hospitals in the vicinity of the resort 
also lacked the medical equipment and supplies necessary to treat Sandy - despite 
the Philippines being described as "ground zero" for these lethal jellyfish stings by 
biochemist Angel Yanagihara, a world renowned-expert on the topic. Just 2 years
1 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229430
2 Ibid


previously on June 8, 2021, a 7-year-old girl died, while two others were seriously 
injured, after they came in contact with a box jellyfish at a beach resort in Del Gallego, 
Camarines Sur.
Tourism has been a remarkable economic industry for the country. It is then 
imperative to not just enhance the experience and stay of foreign and local tourists, 
but also to ensure their protection and safety. There must be facilities that will serve 
as an emergency response mechanism for any potential accidents or injuries for all 
tourists.
Fortunately, the risk of death or injury to children on vacation can be mitigated 
by the presence trained lifeguards and other first responders, ready access to 
emergency services such as ambuiances, and the presence of health facilities and 
supplies in localities frequented by tourists. This bill seeks to prevent, mitigate and 
respond to risks affecting children and other visitors to Philippine tourist destinations 
by ensuring that they have access to adequate medical and emergency services as 
well as life-saving equipment, medicine, and facilities.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 
17
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 559
I I ' *■
of tl;p ^
25 JUL 14 P3:42
n
RECEIVED D.'
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PREVENTING, MITIGATING, AND RESPONDING TO RISKS AFFECTING 
CHILDREN WHILE ON VACATION, ENGAGING IN LEISURE, OR 
PARTICIPATING IN ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE TOURISM 
INDUSTRY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Phiiippines 
assembied:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Child Tourist Safety Act" 
or "Sandy's Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the state to ensure 
the safety of children while on vacation, engaging in leisure, or participating in 
any other activities related to the tourism industry, consistent with the 
Constitutional mandate to safeguard their right 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. Furthermore, 
there is also a need to study and determine the appropriate safety measures for 
children participating in the aforementioned activities.
Sec. 3. Covered Establishments. - This Act shall apply to all individuals, 
partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, or other legal entities operating tourism 
industry-related facilities, attractions, and accommodations such as, but not 
limited to, hotels, resorts, water parks, and surfing camps, accepting minors as 
guests, customer, clients, or patrons.
Sec 4. Access to Medical Services & First Aid. - Covered Establishments, in 
accordance with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Department of
1


1 
Tourism and National Authority for Child Care, shall ensure that minors and other
2 
visitors, guests or patrons are provided with adequate and age-appropriate access
3 
to medical, emergency, and other health care services. This shall include the
4 
services of health care professionals, either on-call or on full-time basis, depending
5 
on volume of operation, as well as means of transport to the nearest hospital or
6 
medical facility. In addition, they shall ensure that there are, at all times, staff
7 
members on their premises adequately trained in first aid. The Department of
8 
Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Health, shall specify the facilities,
9 
equipment, and medicine a Covered Establishment shall be required to provide,
10 
store, or maintain within its premises.
11 
Sec. 5. Life Guards. - Covered Establishments operating swimming pools,
12 
or those in close proximity to beaches, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water
13 
used for recreational activities, shall ensure that there are an adequate number of
14 
duly-certified lifeguards on duty, in accordance with the rules and regulations to
15 
be promulgated by the Department of Tourism and Philippine Coast Guard.
16 
Sec. 6. Permits Issued by Local Government Units. - Local Government
17 
Units shall ensure that Covered Establishments are in compliance with the
18 
provisions of this Act prior the issuance or renewal of any license or permit
19 
necessary for such Covered Establishment to operate.
20 
Sec. 7. Penal Clause. - Any person who violates any of the provisions of
21 
this Act or its Implementing Rules & Regulations shall, upon conviction by final
22 
judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more
23 
than two (2) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand pesos
24 
(PhP100,000), nor more than Five Hundred Thousand pesos (PhP500,000), or
25 
both, at the discretion of the court. If the violation is committed by a juridical
26 
person, the officer responsible therefor shall serve the imprisonment when
27 
imposed. If violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately
28 
deported after service of sentence, without need of further proceedings.
29 
Negligence or failure to immediately provide first-aid to a minor who suffers
30 
physical injuries due to the use of a Covered Establishment's facilities, shall make
31 
the Covered Establishment liable for any hospital expenses incurred. In the event
32 
that these injuries result in death, a Covered Establishment shall also shoulder the


1 
burial expense of the deceased. If the death was due to non-compliance with this
2 
Act, the permits or licenses of the Covered Establishment shall also be revoked in
3 
accordance with this Act's Implementing Rules & Regulations.
4 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules & Regulations. - The Department of Tourism,
5 
National 4 Authority for Child Care, Department of Health, and the Philippine Coast
6 
Guard, shall issue the Implementing Rules & Regulations necessary for the
7 
effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity
8 
thereof.
9 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
10 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
11 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
12 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
13 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
14 
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
15 
modified, or amended accordingly.
16 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
17 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.