THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XV, Section 3, paragraph 2 provides 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." 
Baby abandonment is an issue that affects and is affected by teenagers, parents, teachers, 
schools, cliurches, community organizations, and all of the social services that exist to protect 
parents and children, including health care, child welfare, mental health care, and welfare 
Not only is there a lack of information on the number of babies abandoned across the 
country, but experts also lack information on the characteristics and motivations of parents who 
abandon their babies. While individual cases involving newborn babies abandoned by their 
mothers in public places, receives press attention, no one knows how frequently such events 
occur. 
This bill seeks to establish a task force within the Department of Social and Welfare 
Development (DSWD) to gather information about, study, and report to the congress regarding, 
incidents of abandonment of infant children. 


, :  
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 
& - L i  
e ) ( . . ,  
. J ,  
, 
Third Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S.B. ~0.2621, 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND 
WELFARE DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT, 
STUDY, AND REPORT TO THE CONGRESS REGARDING, INCIDENTS OF 
ABANDONMENT OF INFANT CHILDREN. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Baby Abandonment 
Prevention Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Dejnition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows: 
(1) “Baby abandonment” refers to discarding or leaving alone, for an extended period of 
time, a child younger than 12 months of age in a public or private setting with the intent to 
dispose of the child; 
(2) “Department” refers to the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD); 
(3) “Infant child” refers to a child not more than 12 months of age. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of Task Force on Baby Abandonment. - 
(a) In General- The Department shall establish a task force to carry out the following: 
(1) Collecting information from local law enforcement agencies and child welfare 
agencies regarding incidents of abandonment of an infant child by a parent of that child. 
(2) Maintaining that information in a comprehensive database. 
(3) Studying that information 
and making findings, 
conclusions, 
and 
recommendations regarding that information. 


(4) Submitting reports in accordance with this section. 
(b) Information included - The information referred to in subsection (a) shall include 
infoimation with respect to the following: 
(I) The prevalence of such incidents. 
(2) The demographics of such children and such parents. 
(3) The factors that influence the decision of such parents to abandon such 
children. 
(4) The circumstances surrounding such abandonments, including the time, place, 
and manner of such abandonments. 
(5) The outcomes for such children and such parents after such abandonments. 
(6) Trends and variations in the matters set forth in paragraphs (1) through (5). 
(c) Reports - Not later than one (1) year alter the date of the effectivity of this Act, and 
annually thereafter, the Task Force on Baby Abandonment shall submit a report to the Congress 
detailing its methodology, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
PLDP/1/6/07