SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION }

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maxi

od

House Bill No. 4543

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No, 3333 during the 15" Congress
where it was approved by the Committee on Women and Gender Equality and substituted by
House Bill No, 6156. It was subsequently approved on 2 reading, approved on 3" reading
and was transmitted to the Senate where it was not acted upon

The first six years of life are known as the formative years, The kind and quality of
care given during this period is, therefore, very crucial

The parents, under normal circumstances, play a major role in enriching the child's
environment as the primary sources of learning and developmental experiences, However,
this may not be the case in over seventy percent of the Filipino homes where many poor
Parents have insufficient resources, knowledge, and opportunities to promote early
childhood training

The increasing number of street children, the low achievement levels in elementary
education despite huge investments by the Government, and the inability of many young
children to complete schooling are among the problems attributed to inadequate parental
guidance and attention.

Mothers may become so preoccupied with office or farm work that they.can no longer
attend to the needs of their children. In families where there are many children, mothers
may not be able to attend to the needs of their pre-school children as priority has to be given
to the care of infants and younger children.

It is for these reasons that Women's Community Support Centers are sought to be
established. The centers will not only provide substitute maternal care for children, but
would also serve as a center through which the livelihood programs, literacy programs and
the population programs of the Government may be brought to the grassroots. It is hoped
that the centers may serve as a complete support system for working women.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

i

MAXIMO 8. RODRIGUEZ, JR


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS. )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1543

House Bill No.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS ASSISTANCE
CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITY OF
THE COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO, 8505,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION
ACT OF 1998”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8505 shall be amended to read as
follows:
“SECTION 1 Title. — This Act shall be known as the [‘Rape Victim
Assistance and Protection Act of 1998"] RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
CRISIS ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACT.”

SEC.2. _ Section 2 of the same Actis hereby also amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby deciared the policy of the
State to [provide necessary assistance and protection for rape victims] VALUE
THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS, AND
RECOGNIZE THEIR ROLE IN NATION-BUILDING AND ALL OTHER
IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEM.
Towards this end, the [government shall coordinate its various agencies and
non-government organizations to work hand in hand for the establishment and
operation of a rape crisis center in every province and city that shall assist and
protect rape victims in the litigation of their cases and their recovery.) STATE
SHALL ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
AND SHALL PROVIDE THEM WITH FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR WELFARE AND ENABLE THEM TO REALIZE
THEIR FULL POTENTIALS IN THE SERVICE OF THE NATION. THE STATE
SHALL ALSO ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH
UTMOST SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE WHICH SHALL INCLUDE AMONG
OTHERS, LEGAL SERVICES, LIVELIHOOD AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT,
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING AND ALL OTHER ASSISTANCE
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST ALL FORMS OF NEGLECT,
ABUSE, CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ACTS PREJUDICIAL TO
THEIR WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT.”

SEC. 3. Section 3 of the same Actis likewise amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 3. [Rape] RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND Crisis
ASSISTANCE Center$. - [The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and


Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and a lead non-
government organization (NGO) with proven track record or experience in
handling sexual abuse cases, shall establish in every province and city a rape
crisis center located in a government hospital or health clinic or in any other
suitable place for the purpose of:

“(a) Providing rape victims with psychological counselling, medical and
health services, including their medico-legal examination:

“(b) Securing free legal assistance or service, when necessary, for rape
victims;

“(c) Assisting rape victims in the investigation to hasten the arrest of
offenders and the filing of cases in court;

“(d) Ensuring the privacy and safety of rape victims;

“(e) Providing psychological counselling and medical services whenever
necessary for the family of rape victims;

“(f) Developing and undertaking a training program for law enforcement
officers, public prosecutors, lawyers, medico-legal officers, social workers.
and barangay officials on human rights and responsibilities; gender sensitivity
and legal management of rape cases; and

‘(g) Adopting and implementing programs for the recovery of rape victims

“The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the establishment and operation of
the Rape Crisis Center]

“THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
CRISIS ASSISTANCE CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY
PROVINCE AND CITY OF THE COUNTRY, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO
AS THE “CENTERS”. THESE CENTERS SHALL BE UNDER THE
MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) IN CONSULTATION WITH
CONCERNED LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs).

“(A) COMPOSITION OF THE INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL TO BE
KNOWN AS THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. — AN INTER-AGENCY
COUNCIL SHALL BE CONVENED TO SET THE CRITERIA FOR THE
SELECTION OF THE SITES OF THE CENTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LGUs, NONGOVERNMENT AND
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
THE COUNCIL SHALL BE COMPOSED OF AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DSWD, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG), THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH (DOH), THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ), THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI), THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(DEPED), THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), THE
NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA), THE
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN (PCW), THE NATIONAL YOUTH
COMMISSION (NYC), THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA), THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
CONCERNS DIVISION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
(WCCDIPNP), THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) AND
NONGOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATIONS DULY ACCREDITED
BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SHALL BE INCLUDED AS
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL,
DULY CHAIRED BY THE DSWD, SHALL ALSO ACT AS AN ADVISORY
COUNCIL TO OVERSEE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CENTERS’ PROGRAMS.



“(B) FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTERS. ~ THE CENTERS SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS TO ENSURE COMPREHENSIVE AND
INTEGRATED SERVICES:

“(1) TO SERVE AS THE VENUE FOR CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING,
CAPABILITY-BUILDING AND FUNCTIONAL LITERACY ENHANCEMENT
PROGRAMS, AMONG OTHERS, THAT WILL ENHANCE PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF ISSUES AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION;

“(2) TO UNDERTAKE PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARDS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE, SELF-
ENHANCEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS FOR LIVELIHOOD
GENERATION, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER RELATED SKILLS
WHICH WILL HELP WOMEN AND CHIDREN TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE
MEMBERS OF SOCIETY;

“(3) TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
INCLUDING MEDICO-LEGAL EXAMINATIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
COUNSELLING TO VICTIMS OF RAPE AND OTHER CASES OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ENSURING THEIR PRIVACY AND
SAFETY;

“(4) TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MORAL RECOVERY
AND GENDER-SENSITIVE VALUES FORMATION, COUNSELLING,
REHABILITATION AND PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAMS;

“(5) TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SHELTER TO ABUSED WOMEN AND
THEIR CHILDREN;

“(6) TO ASSIST RAPE VICTIMS OR VICTIMS OF OTHER FORMS OF
ABUSES IN THE INVESTIGATION TO HASTEN THE ARREST OF
OFFENDERS AND THE FILING OF CASES IN COURT;

“(7) TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING AND MEDICAL
SERVICES WHEN NECESSARY FOR THE FAMILY OF RAPE VICTIMS OR
VICTIMS OF OTHER FORMS OF ABUSES;

“(8) TO PROVIDE SKILLS TRAINING OR LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE
TO SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE;

“(9) TO STRENGTHEN AND FACILITATE LINKAGES OF WOMEN’S
AND CHILDREN’S GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH RELEVANT
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LGUs TO MAXIMIZE THE DELIVERY OF
BASIC AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR
RIGHTS;

“(10) TO DEVELOP AND UNDERTAKE A CONTINUING CAPACITY-
BUILDING AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FRONTLINE SERVICE
PROVIDERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS, PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, LAWYERS, MEDICO-LEGAL
OFFICERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, DEVELOPMENT WORKERS, SOCIAL
WORKERS, HEALTH WORKERS, THERAPISTS AND BARANGAY
OFFICIALS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; GENDER
SENSITIVITY AND LEGAL/CASE MANAGEMENT OF SITUATIONS/CASES
INVOLVING WOMEN AND CHILDREN; AND

“(11) TO. PERFORM SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT.

“(C) CLIENTS OF THE CENTERS. ~ ALL WOMEN AND CHILREN
UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE BY THE CENTERS:

“(1) VICTIMS OF PROSTITUTION AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION;

“(2) VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND BATTERY;

“(3) VICTIMS OF RAPE, INCEST, SEXUAL ABUSE, HARASSMENT OR
MOLESTATION;


SEC. 4,

“(4) VICTIMS OF ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT, TRAFFICKING AND/OR
LABOR EXPLOITATION;

“(5) VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICT, NATURAL OR
ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM TRAUMA
DUE TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OR DISPLACEMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS,
DISLOCATION OR LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD;

“(6) ABANDONED AND RUN-AWAY WOMEN AND CHILDREN;

“(7) WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN DETENTION;

“(8) VICTIMS OF ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING FROM
ANY CRISIS SITUATION;

“(9) VICTIMS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL, EMOTIONAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES NEEDING SPECIAL
SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE; AND

“(0) VICTIMS OF OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AS MAY BE
DETERMINED BY THE DSWD.

“(D) PERSONNEL/STAFF COMPLEMENT OF THE CENTERS. - EACH
CENTER SHALL BE HEADED BY A FEMALE DIRECTOR WHO HOLDS A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK OR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT OR SIMILAR COURSES, HAS A MINIMUM EXPERIENCE OF
FIVE (5) YEARS IN COUNSELLING, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
SERVICES AND OTHER RELATED FIELD OR EXPERIENCE, AND
POSSESSES A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AS AN ADVOCATE OF
WOMEN'S ISSUES AND EXPERTISE IN GENDER-RESPONSIVE TRAININGS
AND PROGRAMS FOR CAPABILITY-BUILDING AND IS OF GOOD MORAL
CHARACTER.

“THE SECRETARY OF THE DSWD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
HEADS OF THE CONCERNED LGU SHALL APPOINT THE DIRECTOR AND
OTHER NECESSARY PERSONNEL OF THE CENTERS. THE STAFF
COMPLEMENT OF THE CENTERS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
(DBM).

“VOLUNTEERS FROM THE VARIOUS NONGOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS MAY EXTEND PROFESSIONAL, HOUSEHOLD,
RECREATIONAL AND TRAINING EXPERTISE TO THE CENTERS.
STUDENTS OF SOCIAL WORK AND WOMEN STUDIES AND OTHER
RELATED PROGRAMS WHO ARE IN PRACTICUM COURSES MAY RENDER
VOLUNTARY SERVICES TO THE CENTERS. THE PERSONNEL AND STAFF
AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER WORKERS SHALL UNDERGO REGULAR
TRAININGS ON HOW BEST TO HANDLE THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS OF
THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE CENTERS.”

following new Sections after Section 3 thereof

“SEC. 4. REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. — THE
DSWD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL
CONVENED UNDER SECTION 3(A) HEREOF, SHALL WITHIN SIX (6)
MONTHS FROM THE APPROVAL OF THIS ACT, FORMULATE A PROGRAM
FOR THE REHABILITATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF
WOMEN AND CHILDREN, MENTIONED IN SECTION 3(B) HEREOF. THE
COUNCIL SHALL ALSO OVERSEE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PROGRAMS OF THE CENTERS AND MONITOR THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. IT SHALL ALSO
ACT AS AN ADVISORY BOARD.

Republic Act No, 8505 is hereby further amended by inserting the


“THE DSWD MAY CALL ON NATIONAL AGENCIES AND LGUS,
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO.
ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT BY WAY OF PROGRAM
COLLABORATION AND FUNDING AUGMENTATION, AMONG OTHERS.

“SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT DONATIONS. - THE DSWD,
THROUGH THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, MAY ACCEPT
DONATIONS AND GRANTS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN, FOR
PURPOSES RELEVANT TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTERS. THE
DONATIONS AND GRANTS SHALL BE ALLOTTED TO THE VARIOUS
CENTERS IN SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE DEEMED BEST BY THE DSWD
OR FOR THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED BY THE DONOR. SUCH DONATIONS
AND GRANTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PERTINENT ACCOUNTING AND
AUDITING RULES AND REGULATIONS.”

SEC.5. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of Republic Act No. 8505 are hereby renumbered
accordingly as Sections 6, 7 and 8

SEC.6. Sections 7 and 8 are hereby deleted.

SEC.7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be included in the budget of the DSWD under the annual General
Appropriations Act

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days upon
the approval of this Act, the DSWD and all concerned agencies shall formulate rules
and regulations as may be necessary for the proper implementation thereof.

SEC.9.  Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected thereby shall
remain valid

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to
the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,