SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B .N o.
70
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S °DATE:
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND CARE FOR ABANDONED, 
NEGLECTED AND VOLUNTARILY COMMITTED CHILDREN, CREATING A SPECIAL TRUST FUND 
THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Psalm 82:3 tells us to, "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the
poor and the oppressed."
It is the primary role and duty of parents to take care of and support their children. That is 
the reason why regardless of their financial status in life, parents will normally make sacrifices for 
the future of their children. Parents start by making sure that they provide their children with all 
their needs including good education. They work hard to give whatever they can for their children.
The State strongly supports this noble endeavor as mandated by Article 11, 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." The Constitution also states that the "State shall defend...The right of children to 
assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, 
abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development” (Section 3, Article 
XV). It further acknowledges "the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and 
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well- being" (Section 13, Article 11).
The Convention on the Rights of the child, to which the Philippines is a State Party, provides 
that "A child temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment, or in whose 
own best interests cannot be allowed to remain in that environment, shall be entitled to special 
protection and assistance provided by the State.” (Article 20, paragraph 1)
In this light, a number of laws have already been enacted towards this end but there seems 
to be a need for a stronger mechanism to provide for the needs of orphaned, abandoned, neglected 
or voluntary committed children, who like the other children of their age would also need parental 
support and guidance so they reach their fullest potential and grow up to be morally upright 
individuals and civic-minded citizens of our country.
The needs of orphaned, abandoned, neglected or voluntary committed children are no different from 
any other children of their age. Like other children, they need to live in a safe and secure family 
environment, free from poverty and exploitation. Like other children, they, too, are deserving of love 
and affection.
It is the duty of the State to ensure that parents are provided decent jobs in order that they 
can have the financial capacity to support their children. It is also the State’s duty to provide an 
enabling environment that will assist parents in child-rearing. But even as efforts are directed to 
achieve these, it is likewise the obligation of the State to step in now as parens patriae to ensure that 
children who have no one to care for them are given adequate assistance and support.