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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
DEFINING PARENTAL RIGHTS AND AUTHORITY OVER MINOR AND 
UNEMANCIPATED CHILDREN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
God instituted the family and government. But while God commanded mem to obey the 
law [1 Peter 2:13] and to submit to authorities [Romans 13:1], He put the Family in a higher level 
when He said: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right”. “Honour thy father and thy 
mother; which is the first commandment with promise”; “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest 
live long on the earth” [Ephesians 6:1-3, KJV] It is not to diminish respect and obedience to the State 
and the government to impress the truth that it is obedience to parents that is impressed with a 
Divine promise. By divine declaration, parental authority over children is supreme to 
government authority which is complemental and a supporting role in nature. 
Since the beginning of time, immorality; unrighteousness; hatred; lack of discipline; 
riotous living; covetousness; corruption; disrespect to law, authority and parents; lust for money, 
identity, power and influence; poverty, among others, have engulfed the world, wrecking 
families, destroying relationships, sowing disorder, and even bringing down leaders and 
governments. 
This is very true in our country, despite the Constitutional declarations that: “the State 
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their 
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being” [Sec. 13, Art. II, Constitution], and 
“All educational institutions shall teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual 
values, develop moral character and personal discipline” [Secs. 3(1) and (2), Art. XIV, Constitution]. 
These are all issues of character and discipline. And right discipline must start in the heart 
of a child. “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it” 
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[Proverbs 22:6, KJV]. So, our Constitution declares that the State recognizes the sanctity of family 
life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. The 
natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and 
the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government psec. 12, Art. II, 
Constitution), and that the Filipino family is the foundation of the nation and accordingly the 
State shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development (Sec. 1, Art. XV, 
Constitution). 
 
God gave parents clear instructions towards their children: 1) teach them God’s principles 
[Deuteronomy 6:7),- 2) Train them the ways of God {Proverbs 22:6); 3) provide for their physical 
needs {1 Timothy 5.8), 4) nurture them by chastening and admonishing them {Ephesians d. 4); 5) 
love them Titus 2.4), and 6) control them (/ Timothy 3:4). Thus, the development of the moral 
character, spiritual, intellectual, and social well- being of a child starts right in the home under 
the watchful eyes of his/her parents. 
 
The rearing of the youth is the primary duty and responsibility of parents, and the 
authority of the government complements the same. This Bill emphasizes that the authority of 
parents [Patria Potestas or power of a father] in rearing their children is superior to the authority 
of the State [Parens patriae or parent of his or her country]. It is the parents who have the power 
and the primary authority to set the direction of their children and the State complements 
parental authority or acts in a supporting role with the aim and purpose of protecting the rights 
of a minor when he is placed under unfavorable situation by reason of his age or incapacity. 
 
We must realize that God gave parents, not the State or government, the primary duty 
and responsibility to rear their children. This Bill, therefore, seeks to emphasize in unequivocal 
terms, and give meaning to, the primary duty and responsibility of parents in the rearing of the 
youth in general and their children in particular, and the corresponding obligation of children to 
submit to and obey their parents. 
 
In the light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly requested. 
 
 
 
 
 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
DEFINING PARENTAL RIGHTS AND AUTHORITY OVER MINOR AND 
UNEMANCIPATED CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in session assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the Parental Rights Act of 2022. 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. — Consistent with the Constitutional declarations that: the 
State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic 
autonomous social institution; the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing 
of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support 
of the government; the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, and social well-being; the State recognizes 
the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation, and accordingly, it shall strengthen its 
solidarity and actively promote its total development; the State shall defend the right of spouses 
to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and demands of responsible 
parenthood and 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, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to emphasize, 
promote, protect and uphold the natural parental authority and superior right of parents in 
rearing their minor and unemancipated children. 
It is likewise the policy of the State to enjoin children to submit to the direction and discipline of 
their parents especially while living with them and under their care and support. 
SEC. 3. Parental rights and authority of parents over their children. — Parents have the natural 
and primary duty and responsibility to rear their children for civic efficiency and the 
development of their moral character, and to protect them from all forms of abuse, cruelty, 
exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development. In the exercise of such duty 
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and responsibility, the best interest of the child shall be the paramount consideration. The 
parental authority of parents as patria potestas over their minor and unemancipated children is 
superior to that of the government. The government, in the exercise of its authority as parens 
patriae, may intervene in a complementary and supportive role when the safety or security of the 
minor or unemancipated child requires on account of his/her minority or incapacity. 
 
SEC. 4. Standard and extent of parental discipline over minor and unemancipated 
children. The rearing of children being the natural and primary duty and responsibility of their 
parents, such duty and responsibility shall include the right and authority to teach, train, provide, 
nurture, love, control and discipline their children, and to decide on the education that their 
minor or unemancipated children should pursue, as well as the school or institution of learning 
where they should pursue their education, as they may deem best and with due recognition and 
respect to their religious beliefs and to biblical principles and/or any religious book and 
standards they believe in that are pertinent to such duty and responsibility, without interference 
from the government. 
 
SEC. 5. Duty of children to submit to parental authority. — Children who are minors or 
unemancipated and living with their parents shall obey and submit to their parents in the exercise 
of their right, duty and responsibility to teach, train, control and discipline them and to provide 
for their education. 
 
SEC. 6. Freedom of religion. - The freedom of religion and the free exercise and enjoyment 
of religious profession, beliefs and worship, of parents in connection with the rearing of their 
children shall be recognized, respected, upheld and shall not be abridged. 
 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other 
issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,