Ereee: Peeiniy RSERRCpe yeepyeeeae eliz ad NDARDS = and modified shelter assistance, the following categories of beneficiary should be prioritised: (a) Families with small children; (b) Families with pregnant and lactating mothers; (c) Surrogate parents of orphaned children; (d) Families with damaged houses and whose head of household has died or been incapacitated; (e) Groupsof five or more families originating from the same barangay; and (f) Families with seriously ill members, persons with disabilities or other special needs.”~ zy 14. The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and ManagementActprohibits acts which lead to the misuse of funds designatedfor disasterrelief activities and divertingrelief commodities to anyoneotherthan the intendedrecipients.*> The Commission advises that the diversion orother similar misuse of funds designated for the construction of relief accommodation facilities is therefore prohibited under Philippine law, which carries severe penalties for such conduct, including lengthy periods of incarceration in for offending individuals.** The Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act providesthat the best interests of children shall be the paramount consideration in all actions concerning them, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities, and legislative bodies. It also mandates to carry out a program for prevention and deterrence of andcrisis intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation and discrimination which include man-madeornatural disasters or calamity. 16. The Magna Carta of Women requires that during disaster responseactivities, the Government addressthe particular needs of womento ensuretheir protection from sexual exploitation and the provision of the full complementof services required to satisfy their specific needs.** 17. The Commission reminds all national government agencies and local government units of their legal obligations pursuant to the above provisions. B. Consultation and Provision of Information 18. The Commission is aware that many of those affected by Typhoon Yolanda, particularly those who have been displaced and their residences destroyed or damaged, have not received adequate information about, or have not been consulted Sec. VII(A.)(1)(1.5)(a)-(f), Department of Social Welfare and Development, Administrative Order No. 17 series of 2010, Omnibus Guidelines on Shelter Assistance. 33 Sec. 19(a) and (g), Republic Act No. 10121, Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 34 Id, sec. 20. " 38 Sec. 10, Republic Act No. 9710, Magna Carta of Women of 2008.