Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Pursuant to our Constitution, this bill seeks to protect not only the physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of our women and children but also to 
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
This proposed measure seeks to establish resource centers which shall undertake 
programs and projects that will help amplify the skills of women and children in terms 
of self-enhancement, capacity-building, livelihood generation, and resources 
management. Moreover, it shall include assistance in the form of legal services, 
psychological counseling, and others necessary to protect them against all forms of 
neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other acts prejudicial to their welfare and 
development. The resource centers shall be under the supervision and management 
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
November 10, 2022
2:54 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS CENTERS FOR 
WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Women and Children’s 
Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
value the dignity of women and defend the rights of children and to recognize their 
role in nation-building. Towards this end, the 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 counseling 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. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Development and Crisis Assistance 
Centers. – In order to carry out the above-declared policy, there shall be established 
in every province and city of the country Resource Development and Crisis 
Assistance Centers for Women and Children (hereinafter referred to as the “Centers”). 
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These Centers shall be under the management and supervision of the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and shall be headed by a Director who 
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Director shall hold a 
masters or doctorate degree in Social Work or Community Development or similar 
courses and shall have a minimum experience of five (5) years in counseling, social 
and psychological services and other related field or experience. 
 
 
SECTION 4. Criteria for the Selection of the Sites for the Centers. – An 
Inter-Agency Council shall be convened to set the criteria for the selection of the sites 
of the centers all over the country. The Council shall be composed of authorized 
representatives from the DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, 
Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, National Economic 
and Development Authority, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, 
National Youth Commission, National Manpower and Youth Council, Philippine 
National Police Women and Children Protection Center (“PNP-WCPC”) and 
non-government and people’s organizations duly-accredited by national government 
agencies. 
 
SECTION 5. Functions of the Centers. – The Centers shall have the following 
functions; 
a.   to serve as the venue of consciousness-raising, capacity-building and 
functional literacy enhancement programs, among others, that will enhance 
public awareness of issues and promote community participation; 
 
b.   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 children to become productive members of society; 
 
c.   to provide free legal services and undertake activities related to moral 
recovery and gender-sensitive value formation, counseling and psycho-social 
programs; 
 


 
 
d.   to provide free medical assistance, including medico-legal examinations and 
psychological counseling to victims of rape and other cases of violence 
against women and children, at all times ensuring the security and privacy of 
the women and children concerned; 
 
e.   to provide temporary shelter for emergency refuge to women and children; 
 
f.   to serve as half-way house for children awaiting transfer to foster homes, 
DSWD shelters and those separated from their respective homes; 
 
g.   to provide skills training or livelihood assistance to survivors of violence or 
abuse;  
 
h.   to strengthen and facilitate linkages of women’s and children’s groups and 
organization with relevant government agencies and local government units 
to maximize the delivery of basic and support services for women and 
children and advocate for the protection and advancement of their rights; and 
 
i.   
to perform such other function as may be necessary to carry out the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 6. Beneficiaries. – All women and children under the following 
circumstances shall be entitled to protection and assistance by the Center; 
a.   Victims of involuntary or forced prostitution; 
b.   Victims of sexual abuse, harassment or molestation; 
c.   Victims of prostitution; 
d.   Victims of physical abuse; 
e.   Victims of illegal recruitment and/or labor exploitations; 
f.   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; 
g.   Detained, abandoned and run-away women and children; 
h.   Victims suffering from mental, emotional, psychological and physical disability 
needing special support and assistance; and 


 
 
i.   
Victims of other circumstances as may be determined by the DSWD. 
 
SECTION 7. Rehabilitation and Development Program. – The DSWD in 
coordination with the Inter-Agency Council convened under Section hereof shall 
within six (6) months form the approval of this Act, formulate a program for the 
rehabilitation, development and protection of women and children, mention in Section 
6 hereof. The Council shall also oversee the effective implementation of the programs 
of the Center and monitor the accomplishments of participating agencies. It shall also 
act as an advisory board. 
 
The DSWD may call on national agencies and local government units, academic 
institutions and international organizations to assist in the implementation of this Act 
by way of program collaboration and funding augmentation, among others. 
 
SECTION 8. Coordination with the Philippine National Police. – The PNP-WCPC 
shall work in close coordination with the Inter-Agency Council constituted herein for 
the purpose of referring women and children who are victims of domestic violence 
and abuse to the nearest Crisis Assistance Center. 
 
SECTION 9. Authority to Accept Donations. – The DSWD, through the Secretary 
of Social Welfare and Development, 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 may be deemed bests 
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. 
 
SECTION 10. Funding and Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development under the current General 
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued 
operation and maintenance of the Centers shall be included in the regular 
appropriations for the DSWD in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 


 
 
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any section or part of this Act 
is held unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
SECTION 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,