NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
847
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*22 JUL25 PI 59
RKEiVlDS^'
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
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
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."
It cannot be denied that there is still a considerable number of orphaned, 
abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed children In the country. These children 
need the same care and protection, maybe even more, from their environment 
especially because of their status.
This proposed measure seeks to provide for a trust fund account for each 
orphaned, abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed minor under DSWD- 
accredited child caring institutions and care centers. This fund will be provided by the 
national government. The trust fund matures when the orphaned, abandoned.


neglected or voluntary committed minor reaches the age of majority. This may aid 
him/her in starting to face the challenges of matured life.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMOr^BONG REVILLA, 3R.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 847
oft.K s!?c clcn*^
72 JUL25 P1 59
RECEiVtD 3\
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
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
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide, - This Act shall be known as the Trust Fund for the
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Abandoned, Neglected or Voluntarily Committed Child of2022."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. In line with the State policy recognizing the vital
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role of the youth in nation-building and the State's duty to promote and protect their
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physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, it is hereby declared a
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policy of the State to support and care for children who have been abandoned,
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neglected or voluntarily committed in accordance with the duty of the State under the
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doctrine of parenspatria or guardian of the rights of the people. This duty of the State
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becomes even more imperative in light of the constitutional mandate that the State
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shall strengthen the family as a basic social institution. This is especially so when the
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relatives or guardians of these children fail, refuse or are incapable of providing for
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the needs of the said children. The State shall thereby establish a trust fund for such
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children to be withdrawn only upon their reaching the age of majority.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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defined:


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a) Child refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or a person over 
eighteen (18) but is unable to fully take care of him/herself or protect 
him/herself from abuse, neglect, exploitation or discrimination because of 
physical or mental disability or condition.
b) Abandoned Child refers to a child who has no proper parental care oOf 
guardianship, or whose parent(s) have deserted him/her for a period of at 
least three (3) continuous months, which include a foundling.
c) Neglected Child refers to a child whose basic needs have been deliberately 
unattended or inadequately attended within a period of three (3) continuous 
months. Neglect may occur in two (2) ways:
1. There is physical neglect when the child is malnourished, ill-clad, and 
without proper shelter. A child is unattended when left by 
himself/herself without proper provisions and/or without proper 
supervision.
2. There is emotional neglect when the child is maltreated, raped, 
seduced, exploited, overworked, or made to work under conditions 
not conducive to good health; or Is made to beg in the streets or 
public places; or when children are in moral danger or exposed to 
gambling, prostitution, and other vices.
d) Voluntarily Committed Child is one whose parent(s) or legal guardian 
knowingly and willingly relinquished parental authority to the DSWD or to 
any duly accredited child-placement or child-caring agency or Institution.
e) Trust Entities or Any Bank which Offers Trust Services refers to a reputable 
private financial institution with a proven track record in the banking 
industry owned by a group of individuals which accepts deposits, makes 
business loans, and offers related services;
f) 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 
DSWD or any DSWD-accredited child-caring institution. The said fund shall 
operate as a special trust fund managed by a reputable trust entity;
g) 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


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more mentally gifted, dependent, abandoned, neglected, handicapped or
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disturbed children that Is coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare
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and Development (DSWD); and
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h) Guardian refers to the owner and/or any elder In the child-caring institution
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tasked to keep an eye on the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily
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committed child.
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Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all abandoned, neglected or voluntarily
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committed children, under the case of the DSWD or DSWD-accredited child-caring
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Institutions that may be recognized by the DSWD in accordance with the implementing
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rules and regulations of this Act.
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Sec. 5. National Monitoring System for Abandoned, Neglected or Voluntarily
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Committed Children. - The DSWD, in coordination with other government agencies
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tasked with caring for the welfare and development of children and the youth, shall
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come up with a comprehensive monitoring system to address the needs of abandoned,
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neglected or voluntarily committed children. The system shall include, but not be
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limited to, coming up with an updated data on the number, location and personal
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profile of abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed children; profiling of chlld-
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caring Institutions nationwide; and establishing a transparent mechanism that would
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provide a grant of a reasonable lump sum grant to abandoned, neglected or voluntarily
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committed children who already turned 18 years old and are ready to lead a life on
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their own.
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Sec. 6. Trust Fund for Abandoned, Neglected, Voluntarily Committed Children.
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- A trust fund account in a commercial bank or in a number of commercial banks as
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defined in this Act shall be opened in the name of every covered abandoned, neglected
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or voluntarily committed child under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be
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entered into by a commercial bank and the DSWD. The DSWD, sourcing it from a
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regular annual appropriation Item in Its budget, shall deposit the sum of two thousand
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five hundred pesos (P2,500.00) quarterly in ever/ trust fund account until the account
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matures, unless terminated earlier by the DSWD due to the death or ineligibility of the
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recipient.
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Each of the trust fund accounts shall be opened by the DSWD based on a
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verified list of abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed children submitted by


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their respective child-caring Institutions. To maintain the real purchasing value of the
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said amount through the years, it shall be Increased by the DSWD every three (3)
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years in proportion to the average inflation rate for the said period as certified by the
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National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
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Each covered abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child shall be
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entitled to the said quarterly deposit in his/her trust fund for the entire duration that
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he/she was in a child-caring institution until he/she reaches the age of 18. In the event
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that the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child has been rendered
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Ineligible to receive the said fund, or dies prior to reaching the age of majority, the
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trust fund for such child shall be forfeited In favor of the State.
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Sec. 7. Budgetary Requirement - The DSWD shall Incorporate the budgetary
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requirements of this Act in their annual budget proposal.
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Sec. 8. Revocation of the Grant - The grant envisioned for every abandoned,
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neglected or voluntarily committed child under this Act shall be revoked when:
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a) the abandoned, neglected of voluntarily committed children or his guardian,
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his fellow abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed children or his
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guardian, his ascendants or descendants;
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b) the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child has abandoned the
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child-caring institution for a period of six months and efforts have been
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exhausted to locate the abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed
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child within the stated period;
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c) the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child has been found to
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be pushing or using prohibited 
drugs, or otherwise Involved in illegal
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activities;
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d) the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child has been found to
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be living a dishonorable or disgraceful life; and
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e) the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child has been convicted
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of any crime involving moral turpitude.
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Should the abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed child die prior to
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reaching the age of majority, his or her trust fund account shall be forfeited in favor
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of the State.


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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in consultation with
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the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Economic and
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Development Authority, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other agencies
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they deem necessary to consult, shall issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations
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(IRR) within ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof, Is held invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
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shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
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to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act Is hereby repealed, modified or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the OfTiclal Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,