TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE​
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES​
) 
First Regular Session​
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. 2913 
INTRODUCED BY HON. RICARDO S. CRUZ, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the primary duty of parents to nurture, guide and support their children. 
Regardless of economic status, parents make daily sacrifices to secure a better 
future for their sons and daughters, beginning with access to quality education, 
proper care, and emotional support. Through hard work and perseverance, parents 
nurture their children into capable and morally upright citizens. 
The State stands in strong support of this noble responsibility. As enshrined in 
Article II, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution, “The natural and primary right and 
duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of 
moral character shall receive the support of the Government”. Further, the 
Constitution mandates the protection of children's rights to assistance, care, 
nutrition, and freedom from abuse, and recognizes the “vital role of the youth in 
nation-building.” 
Despite the protective framework of existing laws, many children—those 
orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed—are left without the care 
and protection they deserve. From January to November 2024, the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided shelter and services to over 
7,200 such vulnerable children in its residential care facilities.1 DSWD data also 
shows that there were 1,999 abandoned and 3,344 neglected Filipino children from 
2016 to 2021.2 Meanwhile, the non-government organization Philippines Without 
Orphans estimates that there are around 5 to 7 million abandoned, neglected, or 
orphaned children in the country. According to latest data from the National Authority 
for Child Care (NACC), as of 15 June 2025, there are 1,199 children legally 
available for adoption.3 But according to Rohei Foundation, a ­non-profit group that 
advocates for adoption, only about 237 Filipino children are adopted each year.4, 5
5 ROHEI Foundation. (n.d.). Addressing the orphan crisis [Interview or feature]. CNN Philippines. Retrieved from: 
https://roheifoundation.org/addressing-the-orphan-crisis-rohei-foundation-on-cnn-philippines/ 
4 Beltran, B. (2023, February 6). Left in limbo: Breaking the stigma surrounding adoption in the Philippines. Philstar.com. Retrieved 
from: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/06/2242952/left-limbo-breaking-stigma-surrounding-adoption-philippines 
3 Official Letter of the NACC addressed to Sen. Alan Cayetano dated 18 June 2025. 
2 International Social Service / International Reference Centre for the Rights of Children Deprived of their Families (ISS/IRC). (2024, 
December). Country situation: The Philippines (Revised by local contacts).Retrieved from: 
https://extranet.iss-ssi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PHL_SITU_ENG.pdf 
1 DSWD. (2025, January). Over 7K disadvantaged, vulnerable given refuge in DSWD care facilities in 2024. Retrieved from: 
https://old.dswd.gov.ph/over-7k-disadvantaged-vulnerable-given-refuge-in-dswd-care-facilities-in-2024/ 
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Alarmingly, several fetuses were recovered and found in dumpsites in recent years 
due to unplanned pregnancies, mostly of poor mothers.6 
While there are mechanisms to uphold children's rights, much more must be 
done to address the specific needs of those who lack parental care. These children 
deserve what every child does: a safe, nurturing, and stable environment, the 
chance to live with dignity, and the opportunity to dream and contribute to 
nation-building for the future of our country. 
It is therefore the duty of the State to empower parents through decent work 
and livelihood opportunities, so that they can fulfill their roles and equip them with 
the financial capacity to support their children. At the same time, the State must fulfill 
its obligation as parens patriae, to ensure that children who have no one to care for 
them are given adequate assistance and support.  
This bill seeks to institutionalize the National Child Support and Care (NCSC) 
Program, led by the DSWD with support from key agencies. It ensures shelter, 
education, health care, psychosocial support, family tracing, and transition aid for 
children in need, reinforcing the State’s duty to uphold every child’s right to care and 
protection. Crucially, the proposed measure proposes the creation of a trust fund for 
every orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed minor under the 
care of DSWD-accredited child-caring institutions and care centers funded by 
regular State contributions, this account will be accessible once the child reaches 
the age of majority, serving as seed capital for education, livelihood, or personal 
growth. 
Our vision for inclusive, equitable nation-building must include every 
child—especially those without families to rely on. Just as the government sustains 
programs like 4Ps, it must also invest in the future of these children. 
In line with the policy adopted by its original proponent Senator Alan Peter 
“Compañero” S. Cayetano, this bill therefore serves as a counterpart measure. It 
is for the reason stated above that the passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
 RICARDO S. CRUZ, JR. 
6 ​Compio, J. P., & Fuerzas, E. E. (2025, March 22). 2 newborns abandoned, rescued. SunStar Davao. Retrieved from: 
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/2-newborns-abandoned-rescued 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE​
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES​
) 
First Regular Session​
​
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL No. 2913 
INTRODUCED BY HON. RICARDO S. CRUZ, JR. 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND 
CARE FOR THE ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, AND VOLUNTARILY 
COMMITTED CHILDREN, CREATING A SPECIAL TRUST FUND, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “Trust Fund for the 
Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed Child.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. –  It is a declared policy of the State to 
recognize the vital role of the youth in nation-building and promote and protect 
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. The State shall 
defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and special 
protection from all forms of neglect and other conditions prejudicial to their 
development. 
Towards this end, the State shall provide support and care for children who 
have been abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed in accordance with 
the duty of the State under the doctrine of parens patriae or guardian of the rights 
of the people. The State shall thereby establish a trust fund for such children to 
be withdrawn only upon their reaching the age of majority. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following 
terms are defined: 
a.
Abandoned Child refers to a child who has no proper parental care
or guardianship, a foundling, or one who has been deserted by one's parents for 
a period of at least three (3) continuous months, and has been declared as such 
by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), as defined under Republic Act 
(R.A.) 11642 otherwise known as the “Domestic Administrative Adoption and 
Alternative Child Care Act;” 
b.
Child refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age;
c.
Child-Caring Institution refers to any twenty-four-hour resident group
care service for the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of nine or 
more abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children that is coordinated 
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with the DSWD, as defined under Presidential Decree No. 603 otherwise known 
as the “Child and Youth Welfare Code;”  
d.​
Guardian refers to a person lawfully invested with the power and 
charged with the duty of taking care of the abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily 
committed child; 
e.​
Neglected Child refers to a child whose physical and emotional 
needs have been deliberately unattended or inadequately attended within a 
period of three (3) continuous months. A child is unattended when left without the 
proper provisions or proper supervision, as defined under R.A. 11642; 
f.​
Trust Entity refers to a government financial institution with a proven 
track record in the banking industry which accepts deposits and offers trust 
services; 
g.​
Trust Fund for the Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed 
Child refers to a special fund set aside for the children under the care of the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or any DSWD- 
accredited child-caring institution. The said fund shall operate as a special trust 
fund managed by a reputable trust entity; 
h.​
Voluntarily Committed Child is one whose parent or legal guardian 
knowingly and willingly relinquished parental authority to the NACC, the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or any duly accredited 
child-placing or child-caring agency or institution, as defined under R.A. 11642. 
 
SEC. 4. Coverage. – This Act shall cover all abandoned, neglected, or 
voluntarily committed children, under the care of the NACC, the DSWD or 
DSWD-accredited child-caring institutions that may be recognized by the DSWD 
in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
 
SEC. 5. National Child Support and Care Program. – There is hereby 
established a National Program to Support and Care for Abandoned, Neglected, 
and Voluntarily Committed Children (NCSC) Program, to be primarily 
administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in 
coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education 
(DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Council for 
the Welfare of Children (CWC) and other relevant agencies.  
The Program shall include the following components: 
a.​
Provision of shelter, nutrition, health care, psychosocial services, 
and education; 
b.​
Family tracing and reintegration programs; 
c.​
Alternative family care arrangements, such as foster care or 
adoption; 
d.​
Capacity building for care workers and social welfare officers; and 
e.​
Support for transitioning youth who age out of care facilities. 
f.​
Employment assistance programs to of-age abandoned, neglected, 
and voluntarily committed children for their reintegration, and 
after-care programs for monitoring of their conditions outside the 
program. 
 
SEC. 6. Trust Fund for Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed 
Children. – There is hereby created a Special Trust Fund for the NCSC Program, 
to be sourced from the following: 
a.​
Annual appropriations under the General Appropriations Act (GAA); 
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b.​
Donations, legacies, grants, and endowments from domestic or 
foreign sources; 
c.​
Contributions from private sector partnerships; and 
d.​
Unclaimed child support funds and other child-related government 
recoveries. 
This Fund shall be administered by the DSWD, with separate accounting 
and auditing protocols in accordance with government accounting and auditing 
standards.  
 
A trust fund account, with an initial fund in the amount of PHP 15,000.00, 
in a duly accredited trust entity shall be opened in the name of every covered 
abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child in the custody of a 
child-caring institution, based on a verified list submitted by such child-caring 
institution, provided that such trust fund account shall be opened only for children 
who have been in the custody of the institution for at least three (3) months from 
the time such children was subjected to the custody of the institution. These 
accounts shall be established under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) 
between the DSWD and the trust entity with the exclusive purpose of securing 
the fund in trust for the child. 
 
In addition to the initial fund, the DSWD shall deposit the sum of Fifteen 
Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000.00) quarterly into every individual trust fund 
account, sourced from the Special Trust Fund. Deposits shall continue until the 
account matures, unless terminated earlier due to the death or ineligibility of the 
recipient as determined by the DSWD.  
 
To maintain the real purchasing value of the quarterly deposit through the 
years, the DSWD, in coordination with the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA), shall adjust the amount every three (3) years in proportion to 
the average inflation rate for the said period, as certified by the NEDA.  
 
In addition, the DSWD shall conduct a comprehensive review of the 
adequacy of the base quarterly amount every five (5) years, taking into account 
the cost of living, education, health care, and reintegration support. The findings 
and recommendations shall be submitted to Congress in a report, including 
performance data, challenges, and suggestions for improving program delivery.  
 
Each covered abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child shall 
be entitled to the said quarterly deposit for the entire duration of their stay in a 
DSWD-accredited child-caring institution until they reach the age of eighteen 
(18).  
 
Should a child be legally adopted before the age of eighteen (18), he or 
she shall remain entitled to receive the lump sum amount of the trust fund, 
corresponding to the duration of institutional care prior to adoption.  
 
In the event that a covered child has died or becomes ineligible, the 
balance of the trust fund shall be forfeited in favor of the State, and returned to 
the Trust Fund to support other eligible beneficiaries. 
 
SEC. 7. Child Find System for the Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily 
Committed Children. – The DSWD, in coordination with other government 
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agencies tasked with caring for the welfare and development of children and the 
youth, shall come up with a comprehensive child find and monitoring system to 
identify and locate abandoned, neglected and voluntarily-committed children for 
the purpose of including them in the general database to effectively implement 
the provisions of this Act.  
 
This system shall include, but not limited to, coming up with an updated 
data on the number, location, and personal profile of abandoned, neglected, or 
voluntarily committed children; profiling of child-caring institutions nationwide; 
and establishing a transparent mechanism that would provide a grant of a 
reasonable lump sum grant to abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed 
children who already turned 18 years old and are ready to lead a life on their 
own. 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. – The DSWD shall incorporate the budgetary 
requirements of this Act in its annual budget proposal. 
 
SEC. 9. Disqualification from the Grant. – The DSWD shall issue the 
guidelines enumerating the grounds and procedure for disqualification from the 
grant under this Act. 
 
SEC. 10. Release of the Grant. – The grant envisioned for every 
abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child under this Act shall be 
released in tranches starting from the date the intended recipient turns eighteen 
(18) years old. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
from approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the DOH, DepEd, 
CWC, and DILG and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate and promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof 
inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation.  
 
Approved,  
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