SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
SBNO 
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~(<" 
Iutroduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 13 and 14 Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, to wit: 
"Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-
building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism 
and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public aud civic affairs. 
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and 
shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men." 
Furthermore, Section 3 Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, to wit: 
"Section 3. The State shall defend: 
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2. 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; 
x XX" 
In furtherance of the toregoing provisions of the Constitution, the proposed bill aims to 
establish Centers, particularly in the countryside, that shall undertake programs and projects 
that will help amplity the skills of women and children in terms of self-enhancement, 
capability-building, livelihood generation and resources management. 
In view 9fthc foregoing, the passage oftbis bill is earnestly recommended. 
~rv'I4Ak1V 
MARIAiLOU 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHlLIl'PINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. --3 !~ 
) 
) 
) 
Introdnced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
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AN ACT ESTABLISHING RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS ASSISTANCE 
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CENTERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN EVERY PROVINCE AND CITY OF THE 
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PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OHlER PURPOSES 
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Be it enac{ed by {he Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Women's and Children's 
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Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Act". 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to value 
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the dignity of women and defend the rights of children and to recognize their role in nation-
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building. Towards this end, the State shall ensure the protection of their fundamental rights 
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and shall provide them with facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and 
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enable them to realize their full potentials in the service of the nation. The State shall also 
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endeavor to provide women and children with utmost support and assistance which shall 
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include among others legal services, livelihood and skills development, psychological 
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counseling and all other assistance necessary to protect them against all forms of neglect, 
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abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other acts prejudicial to their welfare and development. 
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SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Centers. - In 
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order to carry out the above-declared policy, there shall be established in every province and 
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city of the country Resource Development and Crisis Assistance Centers for Women and 
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Children (hereinafter referred to as the "Centers"). These Centers shall be under the 
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management and supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
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("DSWD") and shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the President of the 
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Philippines. The Director shall hold a masters or doctorate degree in Social Work or 
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Community Development or similar courses and shall have a winimum experience of five (5) 
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years in counseling, social and psychological services and other related field or experience. 
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SECTION 4. Criteria for the Selection of the Sites for the Centers. - An Inter-Agency 
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Council shall be convened to set the criteria for the selection of the sites of the centers all 
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over the country. The Council shall be composed of authorized representatives from the 
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DSWD, Department oflnterior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of 
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Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, 
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Department of Justice, National Economic and Development Authority, National 
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Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, National Youth Commission, National 
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Manpower and Youth Council, Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection 


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Center ("PNPCWCPC") and non-government and people's organizations duly-accredited by 
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national government agencies. 
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SECTION 5. Functions of the Centers. - The Centers shall have the following functions: 
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a. 
b. 
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c. 
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d. 
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e. 
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f. 
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g. 
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h. 
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i. 
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to serve as the venue of consciousness-raising, capability-building and functional 
literacy enhancement programs, among others, that will enhance public awareness of 
issues and promote community participation; 
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; 
to provide free legal services and undertake activities related to moral recovery and 
gender-sensitive value formation, counseling and psycho-social programs; 
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; 
to provide temporary shelter for emergency refuge to women and children; 
to serve as half-way house for children awaiting transfer to foster homes, DSWD 
shelters and those separated from their respective homes; 
to provide skills training or livelihood assistance to survivors of violence or abuse; 
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 
to perform such other function as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this 
Act. 
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SECTION 6. Beneficiaries. - All women and children under the following circumstances 
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shall be entitled to protection and assistance by the Center: 
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a. 
Victims of involuntary or forced prostitution; 
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b. 
Victims of sexual abuse, harassment or molestation; 
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c. 
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d. 
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e. 
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Victims of prostitution; 
Victims of physical abuse; 
Victims of illegal recruitment and/or labor exploitation; 


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f. 
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Victims of armed conflict, natural or environmental disasters who are suffering from 
trauma due to the tragic death or displacement offamily members, dislocation or loss of 
livelihood; 
Detained, abandoned and run-away women and children; 
Victims suffering from mental, emotional, psychological and physical disability 
needing special support and assistance; and 
Victims of other circumstances as may be determined by the DSWD. 
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SECTION 7. Rehabilitation and Development Program. - The DSWD in coordination with 
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the Inter-Agency Council convened under Section hereof shall within six (6) months form 
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the approval of this Act, formulate a program for the rehabilitation, development and 
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protection of women and children, mentioned in Section 6 hereof; The Council shall also 
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oversee the elTective implementation of the programs of the Center and monitor the 
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accomplishments of participating agencies. It shall also act as an advisory board. 
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The DSWD may call on national agencies and local governmeut units, academic institutions 
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and international organizations to assist in the implementation of this Act by way of program 
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collaboration and funding augmentation, among others. 
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SECTION 8. Coordination with the Philippine National Police. - The PNP-WCPC shall 
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work in close coordination with the Inter-Agency Council constituted herein for the purpose 
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of referring women and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse to the 
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nearest Crisis Assistance Center. 
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SECTION 9. Authority to Accept Donations. - Tbe DSWD, through the Secretary of Social 
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Welfare and Development, may accept donations and grants, both domestic and foreign, for 
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purposes relevant to the functions of the Centers. The donations and grants shall be allotted 
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to the various centers in such amount may be deemed bests by the DSWD or for the purposes 
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specified by the donor. Such donations and grants shall be subject to pertinent accounting 
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and auditing rules and regulations. 
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SECTION 10. Funding and Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of 
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Social Welfare and Development under the current General Appropriation Act. Thereafter, 
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such sum as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance 0 f the Centers 
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shall be included in the regular appropriations for the DSWD in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations 
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that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -
If for any reason, any section or part of this Act is 
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held unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
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effect. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,