Senate panel tackles bills boosting protection for women, children

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

The public hearing, presided by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, tackled Senate Bill No. 2971, or the Child Tourist Safety Act (Sandy’s Act); SB 2401, or the Women and Children Protection Units (WCPU) Act; and SB 2256 – Philippine Amber Alert Act. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Thursday reviewed three bills aimed at strengthening protection of women and children in tourism, healthcare, and law enforcement.

The public hearing, presided by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, tackled Senate Bill No. 2971, or the Child Tourist Safety Act (Sandy’s Act); SB 2401, or the Women and Children Protection Units (WCPU) Act; and SB 2256 – Philippine Amber Alert Act.

Hontiveros, who authored SB 2971, underscored the importance of child safety in tourism amid the growing risks faced by young visitors in the country’s renowned travel destinations.

The measure, named after six-year-old Sandy Garovillas, was introduced following her tragic death from a jellyfish sting at a resort where medical aid was not immediately available.

“Sandy’s Act seeks to prevent, mitigate, and respond to risks affecting children and other visitors to Philippine tourist destinations by ensuring that these have access to adequate medical and emergency services as well as life-saving equipment, medicine, and facilities,” Hontiveros said, acknowledging the presence of Sandy’s parents, Edward and Sarah Garovillas, who attended the hearing to share their daughter’s story.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that in 2021, 1,056 out of 3,604 drowning deaths were children aged one to 14, making it the second leading cause of death among children aged five to nine.

Other risks, such as animal bites, spinal injuries, and infectious diseases, also continue to threaten vacationing families.

Under Sandy’s Act, tourism-related establishments would be required to provide emergency medical access, deploy trained lifeguards, and maintain safety equipment.

Non-compliance could result in fines, imprisonment, or business permit revocation in cases of negligence leading to injury or death.

Meanwhile, the WCPU Act, authored by Senator Loren Legarda, seeks to institutionalize dedicated protection units in all government hospitals, staffed with trained professionals offering medical, psychological, and legal support for victims of abuse.

In pushing the measure, Legarda cited the “alarming statistics” from the Council for the Welfare of Children, which recorded 8,948 child abuse cases in 2022, 72 percent of which involved sexual abuse or sexual assault.

On the other hand, the Philippine Amber Alert Act, introduced by Senator Mark Villar, aims to establish an emergency alert system for missing children.

Modeled after similar systems in the United States, it would broadcast urgent information via television, radio, and digital platforms in suspected kidnapping or abduction cases.

Under the bill, false activation of an Amber Alert or providing misleading information would be punishable with fines of up to PHP1 million.

The hearing also covered challenges related to law enforcement coordination, emergency response preparedness, and funding allocations for the proposed measures.