FIRST DISTRICT, Pampanga – First District Representative Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. is pushing for the establishment of rape crisis centers in all private hospitals through House Bill No. 5685, filed on October 23, 2025. The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8505, or the “Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998,” which currently limits crisis centers to government-run hospitals and health facilities.
Under the bill, all private hospitals licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) will be required to operate a rape crisis center, either independently or through a networked arrangement with nearby facilities to ensure compliance and accessibility.
The proposal mandates coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOH, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the deployment of focal personnel who will provide immediate inter-agency support — including medical response, psychosocial services, legal assistance, and victim safety planning.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which recorded 11,479 rape incidents involving minors below 16 years old in 2023 — with none resulting in filed cases — Lazatin stressed the urgent need for more accessible “one-stop” assistance hubs.
He noted that many victims and their families may hesitate to seek help in private hospitals due to high medical costs, limiting access to timely medico-legal and supportive services.
Rape crisis centers are mandated to ensure victim privacy and safety; provide counseling, medical and medico-legal services; coordinate law enforcement assistance to expedite case build-up; and support victims and their families throughout recovery.
