TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
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SENATE
25 JiJL-7 A 9 34
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN 
PROTECTION UNITS (WCPU) IN ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Data from the Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc., as reported by 
Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs), shows a steep and alarming increase 
in reported cases of violence against women and children in just one year. From 2023 
to 2024, reported cases of violence against children (VAC) rose by 26%, from 10,270 
to 12,930, while violence against women (VAW) cases surged by 57%, from 3,668 to 
5,742.
Sexual and physical abuse remain the most prevalent forms of violence. In 
2024, 67.12% of VAC cases involved sexual abuse or assault, while 51.20% of VAW 
cases involved physical abuse or assault. Emotional and psychological abuse continues 
to affect both women and children, comprising 4.05% of VAC cases and 14.75% of 
VAW cases in 2024.
These statistics present a sobering reality: violence against women and children 
is both widespread and growing. As these figures reflect only reported cases, they 
offer a partial view and underscore the continuing need for access to immediate and
specialized care.
As of 2019, out of the 721 public hospitals in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, 
only 94 WCPUs and VAWC desks had been established, despite a 2013 Department of
1


Health (DOH) order to strengthen the implementation of such programs. Of these, 
only 70 were operating directly under the DOH.
Protecting victims of violence requires more than just reactive interventions. It 
demands a coordinated and sustained effort that provides not only medical attention 
but also psychosocial support, legal assistance, and long-term safety planning. These 
services must be delivered by a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals within 
dedicated, trauma-informed spaces, working under an integrated protection 
framework that upholds the survivor's dignity, safety, and empowerment.
This proposed measure aims to institutionalize the establishment of WCPUs in 
all government hospitals, serving as both a protective and preventive response. It 
affirms the State's duty to provide comprehensive, rights-based interventions to 
address violence and abuse, and ensures that such services are integrated across the 
national health system.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this biil is earnestly 
requested.
OREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
165
JJL-7 A 9 34
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN 
PROTECTION UNITS (WCPU) IN ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Women and Children
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Protection Units Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shail be the policy of the State to recognize
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and promote the right to health of the people and shall prioritize the needs of the
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underprivileged, sick, elderiy, disabied, women, and children. The State shall support
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the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and promote social justice based
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on the identification and treatment of violence against women and children and in
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recognition of the rights of women and children as mandated by the Philippine
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Constitution, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
10 Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Chiid, and the Beijing Piatform for Action. 
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the foilowing terms shall
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mean the following:
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(a) "Children" refer to persons below 18 years old or those over but are unable
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to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect,
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cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of physical or mental
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disability;
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(b) "Violence Against Children" refers to all forms of physical or mental violence.
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injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, 
including sexual abuse. It shall also include the definitions in Republic Act 
No. 7610, Republic Act No. 9208, Republic Act No. 9775, and other pertinent
laws;
(c) "Violence Against Women" refers to any act of gender-based violence that 
results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or 
suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, harassment, or 
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. It
includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
(i) 
Physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence occurring in 
the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the 
household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, and other traditional 
practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence, and violence 
related to exploitation;
(ii) 
Physical, sexual, psychological violence occurring within the general 
community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and 
intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, 
trafficking in women, and prostitution; and
(iii) 
Physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned 
by the State, whenever it occurs. It also includes violence against 
women as defined in Republic Acts 9208 and 9262 and other relevant
laws;
(d) "Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU)" is a unit composed of a 
multidisciplinary team of trained physicians, social workers, mental health 
professionals, and police providing comprehensive medical and psychosocial 
services to women and children victims of violence,
(e) "Child Protection Management Information System (CPMIS)" assures the 
retrieval and management of reports, research, and data capture of the
WCPU;
(f) 
"Peer Review" is a process of examining professional or academic efficiency 
and competence by others in the same occupation. In cases of child abuse, 
the peer review would be the process whereby child protection specialists


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would examine forensic evidence to analyze findings of the physician-
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examiner in the absence of examiner and reviewer bias;
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(g) "Standard Protocol" is a protocol that is a legally binding or otherwise
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authoritative document that provides directions for the actions of a group or
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groups as a benchmark of performance;
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(h) "Gender Sensitivity" is the ability to recognize gender issues, especially the
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ability to recognize women's different perceptions and interests arising from
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their varying gender orientation and gender roles;
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(i) 
"4Rs" refer to the processes of Recognition, Recording, Reporting, and
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Referral of Violence Against Women and Child Abuse Cases.
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Sec. 4. Coverage. - This shali apply to the entire health sector, including the
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DOH health care facilities, LGU-supported health facilities, private health care facilities,
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Other DOH attached agencies, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders
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involved in its implementation.
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Sec. 5. General Guidelines for the Establishment of Women and Children
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Protection Units. - The following guidelines shall be followed in the establishment of
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Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs):
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(a) Policies and guidelines shall be developed in accordance with recent data
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gathered through prevalence surveys, efficacy studies, and other research
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done iocally and internationaliy. Recommendations from international
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organizations may aiso be utilized when appropriate;
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(b) Recognition, reporting, and care management of cases involving violence
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against women and children shall be through medical and psycho-social
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teamwork, including mental health intervention and local government unit
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response and cooperation, whenever necessary;
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(c) Every province/chartered city shall establish at least one (1) Women and
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Children Protection Unit;
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(d) All health facilities shall ensure to have competent and trained gender-
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responsive professionals who will coordinate the services needed by women
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and children who were victims of violence;
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(e) The quality of health care services shall be standardized and maintained by
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ali women and children protection units;


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(f) A mechanism shall be created and a harmonized database shall be
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maintained for all reports submitted by the different women and children
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protection units; and a
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(g) Public-Private Partnership shall be enhanced by establishing a service
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delivery network within their area to ensure the sustainability of WCPU's
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human resources.
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Sec. 6. Implementing Guidelines for the Establishment of Women and Children
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Protection Units. - The following guidelines shall be followed in the implementation of
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Women and Children Protection Units (WCPU):
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(a) Steering Committee on Women and Children Protection (SCWCP). - The
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Steering Committee on Women and Children Protection, hereinafter referred
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to as the "Committee," shall be created primarily responsible for policy
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making, coordinating, monitoring, and overseeing the implementation of this
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Order.
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(i) SCWCP Membership and Structure. - The Committee shall be composed
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of the following:
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(1) Undersecretary of Health or representative as chairperson of SCWCP;
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(2) Undersecretary of the Department of the 
Interior and 
Local
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Government or representative;
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(3) Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
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or representative;
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(4) A director of the Department of Health - Disease Prevention and
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Control Bureau (DPCB);
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(5) A director of the Department of Education;
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(6) A director of a DOH-retained hospital;
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(7) A director of DOH-Legal Service;
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(8) Executive Director of the Philippine Commission for Women;
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(9) A representative duly appointed under the by-laws of an organization
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or Foundation with expertise and experience in Women and Child
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protection work; and
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(10) One representative each from the Philippine Obstetrics and
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Gynecological Society, Inc., the Philippine Pediatric Society, the


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Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, the Philippine College of 
Surgeons, the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Inc., and the 
Philippine Psychiatric Association.
The Chairperson shall appoint a Vice-Chair from among the Committee 
members who shall preside over the meeting in the former's absence.
(ii) SCWCP Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions:
(1) 
Provide overall leadership, policy, and program directions;
(2) Monitor the progress of the program with the assistance of the Health 
Facility Development Bureau (HFDB) and the Center for Health 
Development (CHD) using the Performance Standards and 
Assessment Tools for Services Addressing Violence Against Women in 
the Phiiippines;
(3) Assist in the security/protection of WCPU staff from perpetrators;
(4) 
Ensure that networking and inter-organizational linkages are available 
at the national, regional, and local levels;
(5) 
Resolve issues, concerns, and/or problems, make recommendations 
and decisions that may affect the execution of the project in terms of 
strategic direction, significant change of scope, timing, resource, and 
cost requirements;
(6) Nominate the members of the Technical Working Group (TWG);
(7) Draft, review, comment, and recommend approval of Resolutions, 
Circulars, Memoranda, and Administrative Orders on VAWC for 
issuance by the relevant Department(s);
(8) Propose a Costed Implementation Plan, the whole or elements of 
which, upon Committee approval, shall be inserted into relevant plans 
and budgets of the department and which shall be funded fully before 
any other expenditures of GAD budgets in all levels and 
instrumentalities of government;
(9) Sustain Public-Private Partnership to assist in the sustainability of 
WCPU's human resources;
(10) Submit to the Office of the Secretary of Health its annual report on 
policies, plans, programs, accomplishments, and statistical reports.


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and narrative description of activities on or before the last working
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day of February of every year; and
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(11) The Committee shail meet regulariy at least once every quarter. The
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venue shall be agreed upon by the members. Special meetings may
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be requested by the Chairperson or any Committee member, as the
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need arises.
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(iii) SCWCP Term. - The Committee members shail hold office for three (3)
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years and may be reappointed or untii their successors shail have been
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appointed and duly qualified.
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The Committee members shall designate the Director III of the DPCB-
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FHO as the Chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG), as well
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as the members of the TWG representing the NGO, specialty
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organizations, faith-based, and community-based organizations. The
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seiected staff from the Family Health Office will act as the Secretariat as
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may be necessary to discuss and address particular concerns to ensure
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functionality of WCPUs.
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(b) Technical Working Group (TWG). - The functions of the Technicai Working
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Group are the foilowing:
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(1) Identify/map out heaith care faciiities that need to establish WCPUs,
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using demographic and population ratio criteria;
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(2) Formuiate standard protocois and procedures for muitidiscipiinary
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care for women and chiidren victims of abuse and violence;
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(3) Set the criteria and procedures for certification standards of women
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and chiidren protection units;
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(4) Set minimum competency requirements for training programs that are
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gender-responsive, which include but shall not be limited 
to
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Certification for Women and Chiid Protection Speciaity Training
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Program;
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(5) Monitor and evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability
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of the WCPUs;
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(6) Recommend policy reforms and new guidelines anchored on
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evidence-based interventions and approaches; and


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(7) Perform other functions as may be necessary for the implementation
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of the revised issuance.
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(c) The Secretariat. - The selected staff from the Family Health Office shall act as
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the Secretariat, whose functions are the following:
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(1) Provide administrative support to the Steering Committee and TWG
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in all activities related thereto;
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(2) Facilitate and organize meetings, workshops, symposiums, and other
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activities as instructed by the Steering Committee and/or TWG;
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(3) Prepare minutes of the meeting and other required documentation;
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(4) Ensure the availability of logistics requirements during the conduct of
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the activities.
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The members of the Technical Working Group and the corresponding
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members of the Secretariat previously appointed by the Steering
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Committee members shall hold permanent appointments for continuity
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purposes.
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Sec. 7. Minimum Requirements for Aii Hospitais. - The following are the
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minimum requirements for all hospitals:
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(a) Training. The Committee is mandated to ensure that all hospital personnel
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undergo training on the recognition, reporting, recording, and referral (4Rs)
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of cases of violence against women and children.
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(b) Women's and Chiidren's Protection Coordinator. Hospitals without a women
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and children protection unit must have a women and children's protection
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coordinator (WCPC) responsible for coordinating the management and
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referral of all violence against women and children cases in a hospital facility.
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Sec. 8. Roies and Responsibiiities. -
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(a) The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) shall:
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(1) Manage, supervise, and monitor the overall execution of the revised
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WCPU Policy;
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(2) Provide overall policy direction and guidance;
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(3) Monitor and evaluate the impact of WCPU in families and survivors of
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violence against women and their children;
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(4) Conduct capacity building activities for Women and Child Protection;


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and
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(5) Monitor WCPU reports and analyze the data for informed decision-
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making.
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(b) The Health Human Resource Development Bureau shall:
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(1) Develop and implement plans and programs on the recruitment,
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selection, deployment, and utilization of health human resources for
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WCPU;
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(2) Assist in the development of training programs, designs, and manuals
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for various stakeholders of WCPU;
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(3) Identify and coordinate with institutions that provide capability
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building on WCPU;
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(4) Institute career development based on training needs; and
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(5) Together with the steering committees, monitor standards on the
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health human resources of WCPU.
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(c) The Epidemiology Bureau (EB) shall:
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(1) Manage the development of the operational policies, practices,
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standards, and protocols to ensure the effective and efficient
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implementation of Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance
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System (ONEISS); and
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(2) Develop an efficient and effective surveillance system for WCPU.
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(d) The Information Management Service (IMS) shall:
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(1) Ensure that the system is updated and that all software-related
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problems are properly addressed;
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(2) Conduct orientation and training on the ONEISS-V A WC System
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among the Information Technology staff of the hospital who will
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manage the ONEISS; and
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(3) Maintain ONEISS-VAWC records submitted to them.
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(e) The Legal Service shall:
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(1) Render legal assistance and advice to the Secretary of Health and his
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support staff on matters and policies on VAWC;
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(2) Prepare legal opinions on VAWC matters regarding provision of laws,
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circulars, rules, and regulations, as weli as VAWC iegal queries within
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the DOH;
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(3) Perform legal counseling and advice regarding the enforcement,
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application of VAWC laws, rules, and regulations; and
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(4) Answer all VAWC legal queries and communication referred to Legal
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Service regarding VAWC laws.
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(f) The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) shall:
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(1) Translate the evidence-based WCPUs research findings into key
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messages, prototype lEC materials that are appropriate for specific
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population segments; and
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(2) Develop a communication plan for the WCPU events and campaigns.
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(g) The Health Facility Development Bureau (HFDB) shall:
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(1) Set standards for the technical operation/management of WCPUs to
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include reporting mechanism; and
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(2) Provide implementation support to hospitals in order to comply with
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the service requirements of WCPU.
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(h) The Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) shall:
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(1) Integrate standards on WCPU service requirements of heaith facilities
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in licensing checklist;
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(2) Set basic standards for WCPU service requirements for health
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facilities; and
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(3) Inspect WCPUs to establish compliance with the set standards.
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(i) The Centers for Health Development shall:
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(1) Ensure the adoption and implementation of this policy by LGUs in the
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different localities within their respective regions in public and private
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health care facilities;
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(2) Certify health care facilities in the regions meeting the standard
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service requirements of WCPU through their Licensing Operations
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Unit;
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(3) Provide technical assistance to leverage resources and monitor the
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impiementation of WCPUs in health facilities;
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(4) Formulate and implement advocacy plans for local chief executives to
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generate stakeholders' support from relevant partners; and
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(5) Monitor the implementation of this revised policy and guide in both
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public and private hospitals, as well as in different localities within
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their respective regions.
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(j) The Local Government Units shall:
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(1) Conduct training and orientation on the 4Rs for medical and non-
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medical staff;
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(2) Orient/train public and private health workers;
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(3) Provide budgetary allocation for the effective and efficient operation
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of WCPUs, particularly on the hiring of dedicated staff to manage the
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unit;
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(4) Advocate with municipalities/cities and other concerned agencies and
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stakeholders to adopt and implement;
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(5) Generate and allocate logistics and human resources in support of
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wCPU's provision of services for victims of violence (e.g., counterpart
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funds for training, procurement of supplies); and
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(6) Maintain an accurate, complete, and timely database on WCPU clients.
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(k) The Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc. & Women Protection Unit of
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UP-PGH (Women's Desk), in collaboration with non-government organizations
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and foundations engaged in women and child protection, shall:
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(1) Provide technical expertise and support for the establishment of
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WCPUs;
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(2) Support the training of physicians and social workers in WCPUs as
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facilitators/resource persons; and
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(3) Converge efforts with the Council for the Welfare of Children, the
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Philippine Commission on Women, and other organizations working
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on women's and children's health and gender concerns.
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(I) The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the Philippine Commission
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on Women (PCW) shall:
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(1) Provide expertise and technical assistance on gender-responsive
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delivery of services to the WCPU service providers; and
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(2) Assist the DOH in monitoring the implementation of WCPU in
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coordination with the Steering Committee. Likewise, the Standard
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Performance Assessment Tools shall be used for this purpose.
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(m)The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall develop a
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PhilHealth Insurance benefit package for WCPU inpatient and outpatient
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services for the abused or survivors of violence in accredited hospital facilities,
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considering active and inactive members.
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Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The fund needed to initially implement the provisions
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of this Act must be sourced primarily from the General Appropriations Act. This law
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shall be in the form of an automatic appropriation that shall be programmed annually,
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without regard to the budget proposal or approved appropriations of the concerned
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government agencies and any of their political subdivisions, government-owned
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and/or controlled corporations.
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Sec. 10. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The Department of Health
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(DOH) shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within
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ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Separabiiity Ciause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force
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and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repeaiing Ciause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions
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of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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