SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
991 
S.No. ___ _ 
Explanatory Note 
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JlIL?) r 1 :'iR 
One of the primary strengths of the commission system is in the involvement of citizens in 
making decisions and evaluating the results for their own communities. Local ownership of 
process often brings more efficiency of service and greater leverage of resources. Residents of 
each community are involved in developing the plans, selecting programs and initiatives to 
implement the plans, and evaluating the results of that work. 
Accordingly, the creation of Families Commission aims to provide for a progressive public and 
private leadership that shall work collaboratively to support and strengthen communities to 
improve the lives of Filipino families. Moreover, to actively speak out for Filipino families, the 
Commissioners and staff visit communities throughout the country to hear about their issues and 
promote the Commission's work. The Commission shall be committed to locally-driven, results-
oriented change through: 
• infonued and effective public policy; 
• passionate voice and strong advocacy on behalf of families; 
• diverse communities to plan and develop shared action on children's issues; and 
• wise investment of resources with a preventative focus on healthy families. 
Thus, the Families Commission Act, once enacted, shall undertake research, provide policy 
advice, consult the public and provide infonuation to families and those who work with them. 
These activities aim to improve services, policies and support tor all Filipino families. The 
Commission shall be responsible for nationwide planning, standards setting and policy 
development, and provide communities with research-based best practices on which to base local 
programs for families. 
In view ofthe foregoing, the immediate passage of this biJI is earnestly sought. 
ILLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
S.No._9_9_1_ 
'13 
JUL Z? P 1 :~)B 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FAMILIES COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 . SECTION 1. Short Title.-This Act shall be known as the "Families Commission Act of2013". 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms.- In this Act unless the context otherwise requires, the 
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following definitions shall apply: 
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(I) 'Board' refers to the persons who are Commissioners and, in relation to the transaction of 
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business at a meeting, who number not less than the required quorum acting together as a board; 
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(2) 'Commission' refers to the Families Commission established by this Act; 
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(3) 'Member' refers to a member of the Commission. 
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SEC. 3. Commission established.- This section establishes the Families Commission. 
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SEC. 4. Commission's main function.- The Commission's main function is to act as an 
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advocate for the interests of families generally. 
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Said function does not include acting as an advocate for the interests of a particular 
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family or particular families in connection with a particular case or issue brought before any 
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court, tribunal or body. 
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In performing said function, the Commission shall identify and consider factors that shall 
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maintain or enhance either or both of the following: 
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(a) families' resilience; and 
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(b) families' strengths. 
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SEC. 5. Commission's additionaijimctiolls.· In order to perfOlm its main function stated 
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in Section 4, the Commission shall have the following additional functions: 
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(1) Encourage and facilitate informed debate, by any of the following persons, on matters 
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relating to the interests of families: 
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(a) representatives of govermnent, academe, and community sectors; and 
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(b) members of the public. 
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(2) Increase public awareness and promote better understanding of matters relating to the 
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interests of families, such as but not limited to the following: 
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(a) the importance of stable family relationships (including those between parties to a 
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marriage or a de facto relationship); 
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(b) the importance of the parenting role; and 
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(c) the rights and responsibilities of parents. 
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(3) Encourage and facilitate the development and provision, by departments of the Government, 
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of policies designed to promote or serve the interests of families. 
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(4) Stimulate and promote research into any matter relating to the interests offamilies, such as--
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(a) Collecting and disseminating information or research about families; 
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(b) Advising on areas where further research or information about families should be 
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undertaken or collected; and 
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c) Entering into contracts or arrangements for research or information about families to 
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be undertaken or collected. 
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(5) Consult with, or refer a matter to, anyone (1) or more other agencies, if the Commission 
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considers it necessary or desirable to do so, for the proper perfonnance of any or all of its other 
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functions. 
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(6) Carry out any functions that are incidental and related to the performance of its main function 
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stated in Section 4 or to the performance of any of its additional functions stated in this section. 
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SEC. 6. Diversity of Filipino families.- In the exercise and perfonnance of its powers 
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and functions; the Commission shall consider the kinds, structures, and diversity of families. 
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In this section, family includes a group of people related by marriage, blood, or adoption, 
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an extended family, 2 or more persons living together as a family, or other culturally recognized 
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family group. However, persons are not members of a family for the purposes of this section 
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solely because they have as their common objective or one (I) of their common objectives is the 
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achievement of some profit, result or any other outcome of a community, domestic, professional, 
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recreational, social, vocational, or otherwise unlawful nature. 
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SEC. 7. Needs, values, and beliefs of particular groups.- In the exercIse and 
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perfonnance of its powers and functions, the Commission shall have regard of the needs, values, 
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and beliefs---
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(I) of the Filipino people; and 
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(2) of ethnic and cultural groups in the Philippines. 
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SEC. 8. Mechanisms for obtaining views of specified groups.- In the exercIse and 
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performance of its powers and functions, the Commission shall maintain mechanisms, such as 
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but not limited to appointing advisory committees or forming consultation forums, to ensure that 
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there are at all times readily accessible to it the views---
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(a) of the Filipino people; 
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(b) of ethnic and cultural groups in the Philippines; and 
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(c) of groups that represent families, or one (1) or more kinds of family members, and of groups 
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that have a particular interest in families or in anyone (1) or more matters related to the 
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Commission's functions. 
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Examples of groups referred to in subsection (I)(c) of this Section are groups that 
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represent the interests of any ofthe following: 
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(a) spouses and de facto partners; 
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(b) parents, fathers, and mothers; 
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(c) children under the age of 18 years; 
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(d) grandparents and the elderly; 
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(e) caregivers; 
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(f) men and women; 
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(g) providers of social services; 
5 _ (h) the academe and researchers interested in matters relating to families; or 
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(i) employers and workers. 
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SEC. 9. Capacity and powers.- Except as provided in this Act or any other Act or rule of 
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law, the Commission shall exercise all the powers, rights and privileges authorized by law, 
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whether expressed or implied, and those incident to its existence. The Commission shall exercise 
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said powers only for the purpose ofperfonning its functions. 
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SEC. 10. Membership of Commission.- The Commission shall consist of at least three 
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(3) but not more than seven (7) Commissioners. A Chief Commissioner shall be appointed, while 
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a Deputy Chief Commissioner may be appointed. 
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SEC. 11. Board's role.- The board is the Commission's governing body, and all powers, 
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rights and privileges conferred upon the Commission shall be exercised by it. All decisions 
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relating to the operation of the Commission must be made by or under the authority of the Board 
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in a, ccordance with this Act. All Commissioners shall be members of the Board and shall be 
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headed by the Chief Commissioner prescribed in Section 10 of this Act. 
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SEC. 12. Ability to delegate.- The Board may delegate any of the powers or functions of 
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the Commission or of the Board, either generally or specifically, to any of the following persons 
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by resolution and written notice to the person or persons thereof: 
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(1) any of its members; 
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(2) a committee appointed by resolution of the Board that includes at least one (1) member of the 
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Board; and 
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(3) any employee or employees of the Commission; 
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SEC. 13. Board may appoint committees.- The board may, by resolution, appoint one (1) 
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or more committees to: 
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(a) inquire into and report (0 the board on any matters within the scope of the Commission's or 
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the Board's powers or functions that are referred to the committee by the Board; and 
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(b) exercise or perform any of the Commission's or the Board's powers or functions that are 
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delegated to the committee. 
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(2) In all cases, the committee is subject to the control of the Board and may, at any time, be 
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discharged, altered, or reconstituted by the Board. 
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SEC. 14. Membership of Committee. - A committee must consist of at least one (I) 
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member and may include any other persons that the Board thinks fit. 
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SEC. 15. Funding.- The sum necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
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appropriated in the general annual appropriations. 
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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause.- Any laws, decrees,. ordinances or rules and regulations 
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which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or 
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repealed. 
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SEC. 17. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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