Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2648

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
ownership 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 strong 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 of 2013, 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 earnestly sought.

y
DIOSDADO. iy ARROYO GLORI \CAPAGAL ARROYO

Second District, Camarines Sur ‘Sefond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 2648

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 2013”.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — In this Act, unless the context otherwise

requires, the following definitions shall 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 required
quorum acting together as a board;

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

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

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 or particular families in connection with a particular case or 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) families’ resilience;

(b) families’ strengths.
SECTION 5. Commission's Additional Functions. — \n 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 government, 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

(c) Entering into contracts or arrangements 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
shall 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 objective 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

(a) of the Filipino people;

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

(c) 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 (|)(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;
(0) children under the age of 18 years;
(d) grandparents and the elderly;
(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. -
(4) 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. -

(1) 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 governing 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 fo 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 control of the board and may, at
any time, be discharged, altered, or reconstituted by the board.

SECTION 14. Membership of committee. — A committee 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
shall be appropriated in the general annual appropriations.

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,