Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4342

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE FAMILIES COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the primary strengths of the commission system is the involvement
of citizens in making decisions and evaluating the results for their own
communities. Local awnership of process often brings more efficient service and
greater leverage of resources. Residents of each community are involved in
developing plans, selecting programs and initiatives to implement said plans, and
evaluating the results of that work.

Accordingly, the creation of a Families Commission aims to provide for a
progressive public and private leadership that shall work collaboratively to
support and strengthen communities to improve the lives of Filipino families.
Moreover, to actively speak out for Filipino families, the Commissioners and staff
visit communities throughout the country to hear about their issues and promote
the Commission's work. The Commission shall be committed to locally-driven,
results-oriented change through:

a) Informed and effective public policy;

b) Passionate voice and strang advocacy on behalf of families;

c) Engagement of diverse communities to plan and develop shared action
on children’s issues and;

d) Wise investment of resources with a preventative focus on healthy
families.


Thus, the Families Commission Act, once enacted, shall undertake
research, provide policy advice, consult the public and provide information to
families and those who work with them. These activities aim to improve services,
policies and support for all Filipino families. The Commission shall be
responsible for nationwide planning, standards setting and policy development,
and provide communities with research-based best practices on which to base
local programs for families.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly
sought

DIOSDADO \RAGAL ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4342

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE FAMILIES COMMISSION, PROVIDING 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 “Families
Commission Act of 2011".

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — in this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires, the following definitions shail apply:

(1) ‘Board’ refers to the persons who are Commissioners and, in relation
to the transaction of business at a meeting, who numbers not less than the
fequired quorum acting together as a board;

(2) ‘Commission’ refers to the Families Commission established by this

(3) ‘Member’ refers to a member of the Commissien.

SECTION 3. Commission Established. — This section establishes the
Families Commission.

SECTION 4. Commission's Main Function. -


{1} The Commission's main function is to act as an advocate for the
interests of families generally.

(2) That function does not include acting as an advocate for the interests
of a particular family of particular families in connection with a particular
case of issue brought before any court, tribunal or body.

(3) In performing that function, the Commission shall identify and consider
to factors that shall maintain or enhance either or both of the following:

(a) famities’ resilience;
(b) families’ strengths.
SECTION 5. Commission's Additional Functions. — in order to perform its
main function stated in section 4, the Commission shall have the following
additional functions:

(1) Encourage and facilitate informed debate, by any of the following
persons, on matters relating to the interests of families:

(a) representatives of govemment, academe, and community
sectors; and

{b) members of the public.
(2) Increase public awareness and promote better understanding of
matters relating to the interests of families, such as but not limited to the
following:

{a) the importance of stable family relationships (including those
between parties to a marriage or a de facto relationship);

(b) the importance of the parenting role; and

(c) the rights and responsibilities of parents.
(3) Encourage and facilitate the development and provision, by
departments of the Government, of policies designed to promote or serve

the interests of families.

(4) Stimulate and promote research into any matter relating to the
interests of families, such as —


(a) Collecting and disseminating information or research about
families;

(b) Advising on areas where further research or information about
families should be undertaken or collected; and

(©) Entering into contracts or atrangements for research or
information about families to be undertaken or collected:

(5) Consult with, or refer a matter to, any one (1) or more other agencies,
if the Commission considers it necessary or desirable to do so for the
proper performance of any or all of its other functions

(6) Carry out any functions that are incidental and related to the
performance of its main function stated in Section 4 or to the performance:
of any of its additional functions stated in this Section.

SECTION 6. Diversity of Filipino families. -

(1) In the exercise and performance of its powers and functions, the
Commission shalt consider the kinds, structures, and diversity of families.

(2) In this section, family includes a group of people related by marriage,
blood, or adoption, an extended family, 2 or more persons living together
as a family, or other culturally recognized family group

{3) However, persons are not members of a family for the purposes of this
section solely because they have as their common abjective or one (1) of
their common objectives the achievement of some profit, result or any
other outcome of a community, domestic, professional, recreational,
social, vocational, or otherwise unlawful nature.

SECTION 7. Needs, values, and beliefs of particular groups. — In the
exercise and performance of its powers and functions, the Commission shall
have regard to the needs, values, and beliefs—

(1) of the Filipino people; and

(2) of ethnic and cultural groups in the Philippines.

SECTION 8. Mechanisms for Obtaining Views of Specified Groups. -

(1) In the exercise and performance of its powers and functions, the

Commission shall maintain mechanisms, such as but not limited to

appointing advisory committees or forming consultation forums, to ensure
that there are at all times readily accessible to it the views—

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(2) of the Filipino people;

(b) of ethnic and cultural groups in the Philippines; and

(0) of groups that represent families, or one (1) or more kinds of
family members, and of groups that have a particular interest in
families or in any one (1) or more matters related to the
Commission's functions.

{2) Examples of groups referred tu in subsection (I)(c) of this Section are
groups that represent the interests of any of the following:

{a) spouses and de facto partners;
{b) parents, fathers, and mothers;

(c) children under the age of 18 years;
(d) grandparents and the elderty;

{e) caregivers;

(f) men and women;

(g) providers of social services;

{h) the academe and researchers interested in matters relating to
families;

(i) employers and workers

SECTION 9. Capacity and Powers. -

(1) Except as provided in this Act or any other Act or rule of law, the
Commission shall exercise all the powers, rights and privileges authorized

by law, whether expressed or implied, and those incident to its existence

(2) The Commission shall exercise said powers only for the purpose of
performing its functions.

SECTION 10. Membership of Commission. -

(4) The Commission shall consist of at least three (3) but not more than
seven (7) Commissioners.


{2) A Chief Commissioner shall be appointed, and a Deputy Chief
Commissioner may be appointed.

SECTION 11. Board's Role. -

(1) The board is the Commission's goveming body, and all powers, rights
and privileges conferred upon the Commission shall be exercised by it

(2) All decisions relating to the operation of the Commission must be
made by or under the authority of the board in accordance with this Act.

{3} All Commissioners shall be members of the Board and shall be headed
by the Chief Commissioner prescribed in Section 10 of this Act.

SECTION 12. Ability to Delegate. - The Board may delegate any of the
powers or functions of the Commission or of the Board, either generally or
specifically, to any of the following persons by resolution and written notice to the
person or persons of.

(1) any of its members;

(2) a committee appointed by resolution of the board that includes at least
one (1) member of the Board; and

{3) any employee or employees of the Commission;

SECTION 13. Board may Appoint Committees. —

(1) The Board may, by resolution, appoint one (1) or more committees to—
(a) inquire into, and report to the board on, any matters within the
scope of the Commission's or the board's powers or functions that

are referred to the committee by the board; and

(b) exercise or perform any of the Commission's or the board's
powers or functions that are delegated to the committee.

(2) In all cases, the committee is subject to the controt of the board and
may, at any time, be discharged, altered, or reconstituted by the board.

SECTION 14, Membership of committee. — A commitlee must consist of at
least one (1) member and may include any other persons that the board thinks
fit.

SECTION 15. Funding. - The sum necessary for the implementation of
this Act shail be appropriated in the general annual appropriations

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SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — Any laws, decrees, ordinances or rules
and regulations which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provision of this Act
is hereby amended or repealed.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,