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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.NO. 2339 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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AUG -4 P 4 :03 
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM TO PREVENT 
THE ABDUCTION, EXPLOITATION, AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Child sexual abuse is estimated to affect up to one in four girls and up to one in six 
boys. It poses a grave threat to the health and safety of young people, and its damaging 
effects can last a lifetime. From 2010 to 2013, the Department of Social Work and 
Development has served a total of 150 cases of child pornography and cyber 
pornography. These children were provided with protective custody, psychosocial, legal, 
financial, educational, and spiritual services. Moreover, the Terres de Hommes 
Netherlands recently conducted an exploratory study on the background and psychosocial 
consequences of web cam tourism in the Philippines and it revealed that the country's 
online child sex tourism trade is flourishing. 
The legislature also finds and declares that child sexual exploitation, including the 
use of children in pornography and prostitution, and child abduction pose a similar threat 
to the health and safety of young people, and put child victims at grave risk of death or 
severe bodily harm. Moreover, the incidence of child sexual abuse, child sexual 
exploitation and child abduction can be reduced by raising awareness among young 
children of common dangers and warning signs, empowering children to better protect 
themselves from sexual predators, and teaching children how to obtain any necessary 
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assistance or services. It is declared to be the public policy and in the public interest of 
the State to establish a comprehensive program to provide an age-appropriate course of 
instruction in the prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation and child sexual 
abuse. Thus, urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.! 
1 This bill is patterned after Senate Bill No. A00661A of the New York Slate Assembly. 
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" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF TI-IE PHILIPPINES 
Sec.ond Regular Sessi.on 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. NO. 2339 
Introduced by Senat.or Miriam Defens.or Santiag.o 
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AUG -4 P 4 :03 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House a/Representatives a/the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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INSTITUTIONALIZING AN AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM TO PREVENT 
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THE ABDUCTION, EXPLOITATION, AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND 
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APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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SECTION 1. Declarati.on .of P.olicy - It is hereby declared t.o be the p.olicy .of the 
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State t.o equip Filipino chlldren with the proper kn.owledge and instruction in order to 
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prevent the abduction, expl.oitati.on, or sexual abuse of children and other conditions 
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which are prejudicial t.o their devel.opment. 
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SECTION 2. Coverage - All pupils in grades Kindergarten through Eight [K-8] in 
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all public scho.ols shall 
receive 
instruction designed to prevent the abduction, 
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expl.oitation, or sexual abuse of children. Such instruction shall be provided by or under 
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the direct supervision of regular classroom teachers in public schools and may be adopted 
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by private schools. 
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SECTION 3. Age-appr.opriate curriculum in the preventi.on .of child abducti.on, 
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child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. - The Department .of Education (DepEd) 
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shall provide technical assistance t.o assist in the devel.opment .of curricula f.or such 
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courses 'of study which shall be age appropriate and devel.oped according t.o the needs and 
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abilities.of pupils at successive grade levels in .order t.o pr.ovide awareness skills, 
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information, self-confidence and support to aid in the prevention of child abduction, child 
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sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse. 
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For purposes of developing such courses of study, the DepEd shall conduct 
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consultations with parents·-teachers-community associations, school officials, and other 
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public interest to make recommendations concerning the content and implementation of 
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such courses. Such advisory councils shall consist of, but not be limited to, parents, 
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school trustees and board members, appropriate school personnel, business and 
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community representatives, and law enforcement personnel having experience in the 
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prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse. 
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The board of education or trustees of every school division shall provide 
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appropriate training and curriculum materials [or the regular teachers who provide such 
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instruction. 
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SECTION 4. Appropriation. - The DepEd shall immediately include in the 
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program of the Department the operationalization of this program, the initial funding of 
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which shall be charged against the current appropriations for kindergarten education of 
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the DepEd. Thereafter, such sums which shall be necessary for the continued 
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implementation of this education program shall be charged to the General Fund and 
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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/dpm 
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