Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
House Bill  No.
•1
Introduced By: Hon. Atty. Margarita lgnacia a. Nograles
Explanatory Note
The  Republic of the  Philippines,  through  the  Council for the Welfare of Children
(CWC),  has  been  steadfast  in  its  commitment  to  promote  and  protect  the  rights  of
children.  This obligation is enshrined  in the  1987 Constitution, the  Presidential  Decree
No. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code,  and the United  Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child (UN CRC).
Over the years, emerging issues have increased the vulnerability of children to all
forms  of  harm,  abuse,  exploitation,  and  violence.   Several  policies,  programs,  and
mechanisms  have  been  formulated  and  implemented  to  address  this.  However,  an
enhanced  integrated  approach  must be adopted to safeguard the welfare of children
and  ensure compliance to our laws and  international commitments.  Hence,  the State
uses the CWC as the authority on children's concerns, rights, and advocacy, to pursue
this endeavor.  Pursuant to  Presidential  Decree 603 and  Executive  Order No.  233,  s.
1987,  it  is the  focal  inter-agency  body for children.  It  is  mandated  to  coordinate  and
monitor the implementation of policies, programs, and measures for children.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) called on the Philippine
government  to  strengthen  CWC  being  the  main  coordinating   body  for  children.   It
emphasized  the  need  for  CWC  to  have  adequate  human,  financial,  and  technical
resources to ensure its effective functioning. To support the Philippines' cause for, by,


and   with   children,   this   Congress   pursues   its   indubitable   duty  to   create   a   more
responsive and focused arm of the government that shall protect and promote the rights
of children.
Hence, this bill seeks to abolish the Council for the Welfare of Children and create
the Philippine Commission on Children (Pcch);  and establish linkages with government
agencies and non-government agencies and with the regional and local level through the
Local  Councils for the  Protection  of Children  (LCPCs) at the barangay,  municipal,  city,
and   provincial   levels   and   through   the   seventeen   (17)   Regional   Committees/   Sub-
committees on Children (RC/ SCCs).
In view of these, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
HON. ATIY. MARGrfuA a. NOGRALES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HouseBi||No.     8163
Introduced By: Hon. Alty. Margarita lgnacia 8. Nograles
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN, DEFINING ITS
POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND 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 the "Philippine  Commission  on
Children Act of 2024."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -The child is one of the most important assets of
the nation. Every effort shall be exerted by the State to promote his or her rights, ensure
their holistic development,  and enhance his or her opportunities for a useful and happy
life.
In pursuit of this, the State shall create the focal agency to coordinate the implementation
and enforcement of all laws relative to the promotion of child welfare so as to formulate
and evaluate policies, programs and services relative to the development of the general
welfare and protection of the best interests of children.
The United Nations Committee on the  Rights of the Child  notes that the Council for the
Welfare of Children (CWC) continues to be the focal inter-agency body for children in the
Philippines with the  mandate to  coordinate the  implementation  and  enforcement of all
laws, policies, programs and measures for children.


Further,  the   United   Nations   Committee  on  the   Rights  of  the  Child  welcomed  the
Philippines' initiatives to address the lack of jmplementation at the local level through the
establishment  of  the  Local  Councils  for  the  Protection  of  Children  (LCPCs)  at  the
barangay, municipal, city and provincial levels as well as of the seventeen (17) Regional
Committees/Sub-committees  for  the  Welfare   of  Children   (RC/SCWCs),   linking   the
national  government with the  local government  units  (LGUs).  However,  the  committee
expresses concern at the lack of human, financial and technical resources allocated to
the CWC,  LCPCs and RC/SCWCs, which may prevent the effective functioning of such
mechanisms.
To this end, the State hereby adopts an integrated approach,  using the Commission as
the  authority  on  children's  concerns,   rights  and  advocacy.   In  accordance  with  this
integrated   and   holistic  approach,   the   Commission   must   be  further  redefined  as   a
sustainable, independent, visible, credible, responsive,  proactive and focused arm of the
government.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act:
a.) "Child" refers to a  person  below eighteen  (18) years of age or those over but
are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves or protect themselves
from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of physical or mental
disability or condition.
b.) "Commission" refers to the Philippine Commission on Children (Pcch).
c.)  "Resource  mobilization"  refers  to  all  activities  undertaken  by  the  agency  to
secure new and additional human, financial and material resources to advance its
mission-
d.) "LCPC" refers to the Local Council for the Protection of Children. The LCPC is
an institutional mechanism in all levels of local government unit that:
i. advocates child rights;
ii. plans, initiates, or recommends intervention, and
iii.  monitors children's programs and projects in the locality.


e.)   Regional   Committee/Sub-Committee   on   Children   (RC/SCC)   refers   to   a
structure created at the regional level composed of the regional counterparts of the
Technical Advisory Group of the Commission and Local Government Units (LGU).
SECTloN   4.   The   Philippine   Commission   on   Children.   -   In   pursuance   of  the
abovementioned  policies,  the  Philippine  Commission  on  Children  (Pcch)  is  hereby
created, hereafter referred to as the Commission.
The Commission shall be attached to the Office of the President.
SECTION  5.  The  Composition  of  the  Commission.  -  The  Commission  shall  be
composed of Board of Commissioner headed by the Chairperson.
a.)  The  Chairperson  shall  be  appointed  by the  President from  a  list of qualified
nominees submitted by the Advisory Board.  He/she shall:
i.   Provide  leadership  in  the  realization  of  the  vision  and  mission  of  the
Commission.
ii.  Update and advise the President on matters pertaining to children.
b.) The Board of Commissioners shall be composed the following:
i.  Four (4) Commissioners on  Child  Protection,  Child  Health  and  Nutrition,
Child Development, and Child Participation.
The  Commissioners  shall  be  private  individuals  concerned  with  the welfare  of children
and an active member of a legitimate children's organization.
The  Commissioners  shall  be  members  of NGOs  duly  registered  with  the  Security and
Exchange  Council  (SEC)  and  with  membership  preferably  in  all  cities  and  provinces
throughout the country.
They shall be nominated by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the Commission, for
appointment   by  the   President  for   a   term   of  three   (3)   years,   subject   to   one   (1)
reappointment.
ii. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture,


iii. The Secretary of the Department of Education,
iv. The Secretary of the Department of Health,
v. The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government,
vi. The Secretary of the Department of Justice,
vii. The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment,
viii. The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,
ix. The Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority,
x. The Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council,
xj. Child Representative
The   Child   Representatives   shall   be   an   active   member   of   a   legitimate   children's
organization.  He/She shall be nominated  by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the
Commission,  for appointment by the  President for a term of three (3) years,  subject to
one (1 ) re-appointment.
SECTION 6. Technical Advisory Group. -A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) shall be
created  under  the  Commission.  The  TAG  shall  deliberate  on  the  concerns  and  the
recommendations   of  the  sectoral   committees,   sub-committees,   and   other  relevant
structures.  It shall  also  submit  recommendations to the  Commission  on  needed  policy
guidelines,  projects  and  activities  for  the  welfare  of  children.  It  shall  be  composed  of
bureau  and  service  heads  or  equivalent  of  member  agencies  and  organizations  as
appropriate.  The  TAG  shall  also  be  composed  of  one  representative  each  from  the
following:
i.   Department of Agriculture (DA)
ii.  Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
iii.  Department of Health (DOH)


iv. Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
v.  Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
vi. Department of Justice (DOJ)
vii.  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
viii. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
ix.  National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)
x.  National  Nutrition Council  (NNC)
xi.  National Youth Commission (NYC)
xii. Office of the Cabinet Secretary
xiii.  Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
xiv.  Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)
xv. Chair of the Convergence of Councils and Committees on Children
xvi. Commission Secretariat
xvii. Three (3) private individuals
xviii. Child Representative
The TAG may invite relevant government and non-government and other institutions and
agencies for technical assistance, as deemed necessary.
SECTION 7. Objective of the Commission. -The objectives of the Commission are:
a.  To  provide  the  leadership  in  the formulation  of policies  and  in  the  setting  of
priorities  and  direction  of  all  child  promotion  and  development  programs  and
activities.


b. To set-up a system of networking and coordination with and among all existing
government   agencies   and   non-government   organizations   for   the   effective
implementation of plans and strategies for children;
c.  To  serve  as  an  oversight  body  over  the  Committees,  Councils,  and  other
structures  and  recommend  areas  of convergence for an  improved  and  efficient
coordination,  information-sharing and monitoring of the safety and well-being of a
child;
d.  To  conduct  researches  and  studies  on  children  in  coordination  with  other
government agencies, bureaus, offices, departments and/or jnstrumentalities;
e. To formulate and integrated national policy,  plans,  programs, and pilot projects
including services relative to the development of the general welfare and protection
of the best interest of the child;
f.  To  review,  monitor  and  evaluate  all  policies,  (local  and  international),  plans,
projects and programs on the rights of the child,  by establishing a monitoring and
evaluation  system  which  shall  serve  as the  primary  monitoring,  evaluation,  and
reporting tool of the Commission;
9. To advocate, pilot test, and recommend to the President and other appropriate
agencies  for  implementation   on   a   nationwide  scale  when   appropriate,   new,
innovative,  programs  and  services for the  general  welfare and  protection  of the
child;
h.  To  provide  avenues  for the  jnstitutionalization,  technical  assistance,  and  the
needed  capacity  building  for the  effective  implementation  of policies,  programs,
and  projects  of the  Commission,  especially those  that  involve  the  setting  up  or
strengthening of mechanisms for, by, and with children;
i.  To mobilize resource assistance and call  upon and  utilize department,  bureau,
office, agency or instrumentalities, public, private, or voluntary, for such assistance
as it may require in the performance of its functions;


j. To call upon and coordinate with relevant government and non-government and
other institutions and agencies for assistance in any form;
k. To enter into contracts facilitating the implementation of undertaking for children
and the acceptance of donations, gifts, bequests, and grants, among others;
I. To submit annually to the President a comprehensive report on its activities and
accomplishments;
in.  To  perform  such  other  functions  as  may  be  necessary  to  effectively  and
efficiently carry out the provision of this Act.
SECTION 9. Commission Secretariat. -The Commission shall organize a secretariat
that will serve as its executive arm to be headed by an Executive Director.  He/She shall
take charge of the administration, direction, and supervision of the Secretariat and ensure
the implementation of Commission resolution and decisions.
The  Secretariat shall  be composed  of the following  divisions organized  in  coordination
with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management.
1.  Office on Coordinating,  planning and Programming.
a.  Policy and planning Division
b.  Monitoring and  Evaluation  Division
2. Office on Communication and External Affairs
a, Advocacy and Communication Division
b.  External Partnership Division
3.  Office on Localization and Regional Coordination
a.  Localization and  lnstitutionalization Division
b.  Regional Committees/Sub-Committees on Children (RC/SCC)
4. Office on Administrative, Finance, and Support Services


a. Administrative and Finance Division
There shall be two (2) permanent Deputy Executive Director who shall head these offices.
They  shall  provide  assistance  and  advice  to  the  Executive  Director  in  child-related
concerns and in the over-all direction and supervision of the day to day operations of the
specific  offices  under  them.  They  may  take  charge  of  any  special  projects/programs
assigned by the Executive Director.
The  Executive  Director  and  the  Deputy  Executive  Director  shall  be  appointed  by  the
President and shall  respectively have the rank,  privileges and emoluments of a Career
Executive Service Officer I and Career Executive Service Officer 11, and shall receive such
other allowance and benefits as may be provided by law.
SECTION  10.  Sectoral  Committees  and  Sub-Committees.  -  Sectoral  Committees
shall hereby be created following the five (5) areas of concerns of the UN Convention of
the  Rights  of the  Child.  Additional  committees  or  sub-committees  may  be  created  to
address emerging or specific concerns of children. The five (5) areas of concern are:
1.  Children in Need of Special  Protection;
2.  Family Environment and Alternative Care;
3. Civil Rights and Freedom;
4.  Basic Health and Welfare; and
5.  Education,  leisure and cultural activities.
SECTION  11. Convergence of Councils and Committees on Children (Four Cs). -
The Four Cs shall be created as the system of collaboration and coordination among all
councils  and  committees  to  specifically  address  concerns  on  children.  It  shall  ensure
effective  and  harmonious  work  relationship  among  all  structures  on  children  and  to
address their issues at the national, regional and local levels.
As the focal government inter-agency body on children's concerns and the overarching
mechanism on child protection, the Commission shall ensure the convergence of efforts
in  addressing  children's  issues  and  concerns  among  these  councils  and  committees


through  an   improved   and  efficient  coordination   in   planning,   data-sharing   and  align
monitoring and oversight practices.
SECTION   12.  Regional  Committee/Sub-Committee  for  the  Welfare  of  Children
(RC/SCC).  - There  shall  be  a  Regional  Committee/Sub-Committee  for the Welfare  of
Children  (RC/SCC)  in  each  region.  The  RC/SCC will  be  under the  administration  and
supervision  of  the  Commission  Secretariat.  The  Chair  and  Vice-chairperson  of  the
RC/SCC shall be elected by its members to come from government agencies and/or non-
government organizations. They shall ensure the effective implementations of this Act at
the Regional and LGU levels and coordination among the member agencies.
The RC/SCC will be composed of permanent representatives who shall have a rank not
lower  than  an  assistant  regional  director  or  its  equivalent  to  be  designated  by  the
concerned department heads from the following agencies and shall receive emoluments
as  may  be  determined  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  existing  budget  and
accounting rules and regulations:
a. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
b. Department of Justice (DOJ)
c. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
d. Department of Education (DepEd)
e. Department of Health (DOH)
f.  Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
a.  Department of Agriculture (DA)
h. Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
i.  National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)
j.  National  Nutrition Council (NNC)
k. League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP)


I. Three (3) representatives from NGOs operating within the region selected by the
RC/SCC based on the criteria established by the Commission; and
in. One (1 ) sectoral representative from the children sector within the region.
SECTION 13. Establishing and Strengthening the Local Councils for the Protection
of Children  (LCPC). - The  LCPC  shall  be  responsible for planning  and  spearheading
programs for children at the local level. The Commission shall work in coordination with
DILG and other relevant agencies to ensure the establishment and strengthening of the
LCPC.  The  LCPCs shall  be  allotted  at  least 7%  of the local  government's total  budget
appropriations.
The Commission on Audit (COA) shall conduct an annual audit on the use of the allotted
budget   for   the   purpose   of  determining   its  judicious   use   and   the   efficiency,   and
effectiveness of interventions in addressing child-related issues towards the realization of
the objectives of the country's commitments, plans, and policies on children.
SECTION  14.  Honoraria.  -  The  Chairperson  and  the  members  of  the  Commission,
members of the sectoral committees,  sub-committees, task forces and other structures
that  may  be  created  under the  Commission  shall  receive  honoraria  for every  meeting
actually   attended.   The   amount   of  which   shall   be   determined   by   an   appropriate
Commission resolution and authorized by the Department of Budget and Management.
SECTION 15. Abolition of the Council for the Welfare of Children.  -The Council for
the  Welfare  of  Children  (CWC)  is  hereby  abolished.  The  appropriations,   personnel,
programs  and  activities  of the  CWC,  including  its  membership  to  existing  committees,
councils and other inter-agency bodies, shall be transferred to the Commission.
SECTION 16. Transitory Provisions. -Upon approval of this Act, the officers and staff
of the CWC Secretariat shall, in a hold over capacity, continue to perform their duties and
responsibilities  in  a  holdover  capacity  and  receive  their  corresponding  salaries  and
benefits.
Those incumbents whose positions are not included in the approved new staffing pattern
of the Council Secretariat or not reappointed shall be deemed separated from the service.
Such  shall  receive the  retirement  benefits to which they  may be entitled  under existing


laws, rules and regulations. Otherwise, they shall be paid the equivalent of one and one-
fourth (1  -/4) month basic salary for every year of service of the equivalent nearest fraction
thereof favorable to them on the  basis of the highest salary received or the equivalent
nearest fraction thereof favorable to them on the basis of the highest salary received, in
addition to the retirement benefits or pensions under retirement law.
The   new   position   structure   and   stafflng    patterns   by   the   Commission   shall    be
recommended by the Executive Director for approval by the Secretary of the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM) with due concurrence of the Civil Service Commission
within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the approval of this Act,
Authorized  position  created  thereunder  shall  be  filled  with  regular  appointments.  The
authority   of  the   Executive   Director   of  the   Commission   shall   be   extended   to:   (1)
appointments and other personnel action in accordance to Section 29, Chapter 6, Book
lv of Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987.
SECTION  17. Implementing Rules and Regulation. -The Commission Secretariat, in
coordination  with  the  proper  standing  committees  of both  Houses  of Congress  and  in
consultation with the Board of Commissioners, shall promulgate the implementing Rules
and  Regulations  (lRR) for this Act within ninety (90) days after its enactment;  Provided,
that the rules and regulations issued by other government agencies and instrumentalities
for the prevention and/or abatement of violation of child's right not inconsistent with this
act shall supplement the rules and regulations issued by the Commission pursuant to the
provisions of this Act.
SECTION  18. Appropriations. -The amount to cover the initial  implementation of this
Act   shall   be   charged   against  the   current   year's   appropriations   of  the   concerned
implementjng departments/agencies.
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the initial amount of One Hundred Million
Pesos (P100,000,000.00) as additional funding for the Commission to be charged against
the unexpanded contingency funds of the Office of the President.
Thereafter,  the amount necessary for its continued  imp[ementation shall  be  included  in
the budgets of the Commission in the annual General Appropriations Act.


Adequate funds shall  be appropriated annually from any funds in the  National Treasury
not otherwise appropriated but may be necessary for the operations and maintenance of
the Commission, including the effective functioning of RC/SCCs and LCPCs.
Additional funds  may be appropriated annually from any funds in the  National Treasury
not otherwise appropriated but may be necessary for the operations and maintenance of
the Commission.
SECTION  19. Repealing clause. -All laws, orders,  rules and regulations,  inconsistent
with  or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,  modified,  repealed
accordingly.
SECTION  20.  Separabilty  Clause.  -  lf any  part  or  provisions  of this  Act  is  declared
unconstitutional,  the  same  shall  not  affect  the  validity  and  effectiveness  of  the  other
provisions hereof.
SECTION  21.  Effectivify  Clause.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  upon
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspaper
of general circulation.
Approved.