A lawmaking tandem has filed a bill that would create child advocacy centers in all local government units across the country.
House Bill No. 7468 or the “Child Advocacy Centers bill”, filed by Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos and Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos, seeks to establish centers in every city and municipality aimed at providing dedicated, child-friendly facilities where investigation, medical examination, psychosocial intervention, legal coordination, and case management could be conducted through a unified and trauma-informed process.
“By bringing together social workers, law enforcement, medical professionals, prosecutors, and child protection specialists, the proposed system minimizes re-victimization while strengthening accountability and case resolution,” the bill’s explanatory note states.
Under the bill, CACs would serve as the primary venue for the reporting, assessment, interview, medical examination, psychosocial intervention, referral, and case coordination involving cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Rep. Ching Bernos said the CACs are a response to the fragmented handling of child abuse and neglect cases in the country.
The CACs shall handle, among others, cases of physical abuse; sexual abuse and exploitation; psychological or emotional abuse; neglect and abandonment; online sexual abuse and exploitation of children; and other acts punishable under child protection laws.
A multidisciplinary team shall also be formed, composed of representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Desks; Department of Health or government hospitals; Department of Justice or Office of the Prosecutor; local government social welfare office; and other agencies deemed necessary.
According to Rep. Ching Bernos, the CACs are a response to the fragmented handling of child abuse and neglect cases in the country.
“We have various laws to protect children, however, the means to apply these are fragmented. Child victims are often subjected to a repeat of their trauma because they have to recount their experiences multiple times to different authorities: barangay officials, police, social workers, medical personnel, and prosecutors, among others,” she said.
Rep. JB Bernos meanwhile said that a seeming inconsistency in coordination among concerned agencies as well as the lack of proper, child-friendly facilities compounds the problem.
“Maaaring magsilbing hadlang ang mga isyu na ito sa pag-report ng mga kaso. Hindi dapat maging dagdag na pabigat ang pagsumbong sa awtoridad para makamit ng mga batang biktima ng pang-aabuso ang tulong at hustisya,” he said.
