Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third 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 
This proposed measure seeks to establish Centers that 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. This will be under the supervision and management of the Department 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
Pursuant to our Constitution, this bill seeks not only protect 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. 
It aims 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. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
July 26, 2021
5:59 pm
9877


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third 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’s 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”). 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. 
9877


 
 
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,