Introduced by enator Jinggoy 
Art. 
XV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution expressly provides, thus: 
“Sect ion 
I. The State recognizes the Filipino family as the 
Accordingly , it shall strengthen its solidarity and 
foundation of the nation. 
actively promote its total development.” 
This and a number of other provisions clearly reveal the pro-family bias of the 
highest law of the land. 
The President of the Philippines has set the tone for according emphasis on the 
family by declaring the year I988 as the Year of the Family and by the enactment of 
Executive Order No. 209 as amended, otherwise known as the Family Code, which 
codified the laws affecting and relating to the family. 
What remains to be done now is to provide the appropriate structural support 
which will make possible the attainment of the State goals of strengthening the solidarity 
and promoting the total development of the family. 
At present, there is one government agency, the Bureau of Family and 
Community Welfare, which specifically deals with the family. 
The said Bureau is 
charged with extending ”assistance” to sociallv-disadvantaged families and communities 
including family planning, planning outreach programs to develop their capability in 
defining needs and formulating solutions as well as setting up viable community 
structures which bring about desired social changes.” (Executive Order No. 123, Sec. 
13 (b). From its mandate, it is seen that this Bureau is concerned only with a limited 
clientele - the socially disadvantaged families. 
Admittedly, other executive 
Departments would have some programs for the family. But these programs, like those 
of the Bureau of Family and Community Welfare are targeted only at limited 
beneficiaries, such as the programs of the Department of Agriculture for the agricultural 
families. Obviously, there is a NEED for an agency that will be mainly responsible for 
recommending policies that will effectuate the family-related provisions of the 
Constitution and for the monitoring of the programs on the family of the line departments 
concerned. 
This bill, therefore, proposes the creation of a Commission on the Family which 
will undertake these functions, among others. It is hope that the presence of this 
Commission will ensure some direction in the formulation of policies and in the 
implementation of programs on the family. 


After all, the Filipino Family as the entry point and focus of government 
programs, could perhaps be a key to the country’s bid for stability and economic 
recovery and to hasten the achievement of our long-sought for objectives of national 
peace and unity. 
J 
Senator 


TH 
NTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
RE 
C OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
. No. 
~~ 
Introduced by enator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A COMMISSION ON THE FAMILY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
SECTION 1. Creation of the National Commission on the Family. - There is 
hereby created the Commission on the Family, hereinafter referred to as the 
Commission , under the Office of the President, which shall be responsible for 
formulating and recommending policies and programs to strengthen the solidarity and to 
promote the total development of the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. 
SECTION 2. Functions of the Commission. - The Commission shall have the 
following powers and functions: 
To undertake studies on the Filipino family, including a periodic review and 
evaluation of the various issues and problems that currently confront it; 
To monitor compliance with, and periodically assess the impact of 
government programs , policies, laws, and regulations relating to the family, 
women and children; 
To recommend measures that will strengthen the solidarity of the family and 
promote the total development thereof without prejudice to internationally 
accepted individual rights in conventions or treaties as adopted or may be 
ratified by the Philippines; 
To periodically prepare a Family Development, Plan as part of the general 
development plan of the Philippines; 
To undertake studies of international agreements and developments 
pertaining to the family, women, and children and recommend appropriate 
action thereon; 


(f) 
To monitor compliance with existing international agreements and 
conventions on the family, women and children to which the Philippines may 
be a party; 
(9) To develop a data bank on information relating to the family; 
(h) To undertake education and information dissemination program on the 
family; and 
(i) To receive donations, gifts, legacies, bequests, contributions or any forms of 
support from the public or private individuals and institutions. 
SECTION 3. 
oard of Commissione . 
- All powers and duties of the 
Commission shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Commissioners, hereinafter 
referred to as the Board. 
The Board shall consist of a Chairman and six (6) other members appointed by 
the President, who are of good moral character, of recognized standing in the 
community, and with expertise in social work, community development, sociology, 
psychology, domestic relations, family and matrimonial relations law, guidance 
counselling, or other similar fields: Provided, That the following sectors shall be 
represented: the youth , the women, the cultural communities and the acedeme. 
The Chairman and members of the Commission shall received no compensation 
for their services but they shall receive per diem of Three hundred pesos (P300.00) 
each per meeting plus the necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of 
their duties as members of the Commission. 
SECTION 4. Powers and Duties pf the sard, - The Board shall have the 
following powers and duties: 
(a> 
To formulate , implement, and evaluate the activities and programs of 
the Commission; 
To determine and create the organizational structure of the staff of the 
Commission; 
To prescribe policies, adopt plans and programs, formulate rules and 
regulations and establish procedures governing the operation of the 
Commission; 
To approve the annual or supplemental budgets of the Commission; 
and 
To perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the 
President or as may be deemed necessary by the Board to carry out 
the objectives of the Commission. 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 


SECTION 5. Chairman ofthe oard. - Powers, functions and duties. - The 
Chairman shall have the following powers and duties: 
(a) 
(b) 
To call and preside over the meetings of the Board; 
To solicit and accept, on behalf of the Commission, gifts, grants or 
donations; 
To constitute special committees composed of members of the Board or 
such individuals who are considered experts in the projects undertaken by 
the Commission; and 
To perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President. 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
SECTION 6. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners. - The Board shall 
meet regularly once a month and as often as necessary upon the request of the 
Chairman or at least three (3) members of the Board. 
SECTION 7. SfaN. - A staff shall be created by the Board to provide technical 
support to the Board. The staff shall be headed by an Executive Director whose duties 
and responsibilities shall be determined by the Board. The composition of the staff 
shall be determined by the Board in accordance with its needs and subject to the 
availability of funds of the Commission. 
The staff and other personnel of the 
Commission shall be appointed in accordance with the Civil Service Law, Rules and 
Regulations. Their salaries and other emoluments shall be in accordance with Republic 
Act No. 6758. 
SECTION 8. Donafions . - The Commission shall be authorized to receive 
grants, donations or gifts in whatever form and from whatever source: Provided, That 
such grants, gifts or donations shall be administered, obligated and disbursed in 
accordance with the terms thereof or, in the absence of such terms, in such manner as 
the Board may determine Provided, further, That the utilization of said grants or 
donations shall be subject only to such limitations as the grantor or donor may impose 
and such limitations as the grantor or donor may impose and such limitations are 
accepted by the Commission: Provided, furthermore, That not more than five percent 
(5%) of the amounts received by way of donations, gifts and grants, shall be used for 
salaries, compensation, allowances and prerequisites of any nature, of members and 
personnel of the Commission: Provided, finally, That expenditures made from all funds 
and donations received by the Commission, whether from government or from private 
sources , shall be subject to existing auditing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to 
government agencies. 


SECTION 9. Funding. - The sum of Three million pesos (P3,000,000.00) is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated as the initial funding of the Commission for the 
first year. 
Thereafter, the President shall include in the annual General Appropriations Act 
such amounts as may be necessary to support the operations and finance the projects 
of the Cornmission, 
SECTION I O .  Assistance from 
ffices. - The Commission may 
call upon any department, bureau, office or agency or instrumentality of the 
Government, including government-owned or 
controlled 
corporations, for such 
assistance as may be needed to achieve its purposes and objectives. 
SECTION I I. Reports. - Within two (2) months after the end of each calendar 
year and as often as may be required, the Commission shall submit to the President 
and to Congress its annual report embodying its activities, accomplishments and 
recommend at ions. 
SECTION 12. 
epealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Separabilify Clause. - If any part, section or provision of thik Act 
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional , no other part, section or provision shall be 
affected thereby. 
SECTION 14. Dafe of Effecfivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (I 
5) days 
after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,