The House Committee on the Welfare of Children has reported out for floor deliberation a bill providing emergency relief and protection for children during disasters, calamities and other emergency situations.
Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles of the Second District of Zamboanga del Sur and chairman of the House body said the bill will set the standards to guide humanitarians and obligates government agencies to perform priority action to protect the rights of children.
“Children are among the worst affected and most vulnerable because of the country’s geographical location and geology, with an average of 20 typhoons yearly, including numerous earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and similar disasters,” Cerilles said.
Citing the study of Save the Children Philippines, Rep. Susan A. Yap of the Second District of Tarlac and author of House Bill 5062, said more than 10,000 children affected by
Supertyphoon Yolanda are still living in difficult situations in evacuation centers suffering the uncertainty of their education, welfare and health.
“Six children died after their tent in the evacuation center was razed by fire, many of them were not able to go back to school and some children are now engaged in harsh and dangerous labor,” Yap said.
Yap said thousands of children died during Typhoon Yolanda while those who survived have experienced psychosocial trauma and difficulties in evacuation centers, and are even exploited and abused due to lack of social protection.