NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
W.; 
of t'nr I p{.M7>
*22 JUL 12 A 8 54
S. B. No. 301
WKEmUBt:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND CARE FOR THE 
ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, AND VOLUNTARILY COMMITTED CHILDREN, 
CREATING A SPECIAL TRUST FUND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed."
Psalm 82:3
It is the primary role and duty of parents to take care of and support their 
children. That is why regardless of their financial status in life, parents will make 
sacrifices for the future of their children. Parents start by making sure that they 
provide their children with their basic needs including quality education. They work 
hard to cater to the needs of their children.
The State strongly supports this noble endeavour as mandated by Article II, 
Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution, "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 Constitution also states 
that the "State shall defend...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" [Section 3, Article 
XV}. It further acknowledges, "the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well­
being" [Section 13, Article II}.
While a number of laws have already been enacted with this end in view, there 
is a need for a stronger mechanism to provide for the needs of the abandoned, 
neglected, or voluntarily committed children, who - like the other children of their 
age - would also need parental support and guidance so they can reach their fullest 
potential and grow up to be morally upright individuals and civic-minded citizens for 
our country.
The needs of the abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children are 
no different from any other children of their age. Like any other child, they need to


live in a safe, secure, and comfortable family environment, free from poverty and 
exploitation. Like other children, they, too, are deserving of love and affection.
It is the duty of the State to ensure that parents are provided with the 
opportunities of decent jobs and livelihood, to equip them with the financial capacity 
to support their children. It is also the State's duty to provide an enabling 
environment that will assist parents in child-rearing. But even as efforts are directed 
to achieve these, it is likewise the obligation of the State to step in as parens patriae 
to ensure that children who have no one to care for them are given adequate 
assistance and support.
This proposed bill underscores the fact that while our child-caring institutions 
receive support from public and private sources, there is a need to address the 
orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or voluntary committed child's need for assistance 
in securing a bright and better future. If nobody can do this for them, the Government 
as parens patriae must step in and perform this task. In the same way that the 
Government can appropriate a hundred billion for social protection programs like the 
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps), the Government also has the capacity to 
provide for the orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed minors. 
No one must be left behind, especially the most vulnerable.
This measure seeks to provide for a trust fund account for each orphaned, 
abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed minor under DSWD-accredited child 
caring institutions and care centers which the State has to fund by quarterly 
depositing a specified amount for each of the trust fund account. The trust fund 
account matures when the orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily 
committed minor reaches the age of majority, thus providing him or her seed money 
to pursue his or her dreams.
In the best interests of our abandoned, neglected, or voluntary committed 
children, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S. B.No. 301
of tl)? e>i i- ;'*!> i'j;
"22 JUL 12 A8S4
Received ey:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND CARE FOR THE 
ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, AND VOLUNTARILY COMMITTED CHILDREN, 
CREATING A SPECIAL TRUST FUND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the "Trust Fund for the
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Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed Child".
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - In line with the State policy recognizing
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the vital role of the youth in nation building and the State's duty to promote and
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protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, it is hereby
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declared a policy of the State to support and care for children who have been
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abandoned, neglected or voluntarily committed in accordance with the duty of the
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State under the doctrine of parens patriae or guardian of the rights of the people. The
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duty of the State becomes even more imperative in light of the constitution?! mandate
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that the State shall strengthen the family as a basic social institution. This is especially
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so when the relatives or guardian of these children fail, refuse or are incapable of
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providing for the needs of the said children. The State shall thereby establish a trust
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fund for such children to be withdrawn only upon their reaching the age of majority.
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the following
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terms are defined:
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a. “Child" refers to a person below eighteen [18} years of age;
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b. “Abandoned Child" refers to a child who has no proper parental care or
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guardianship, or whose parent[s} have deserted him/her for a period of at
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least three [3} continuous months.
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c. “Neglected Child" refers to a child whose basic needs have been
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deliberately unattended or inadequately attended within a period of three
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(3} continuous months. Neglect may occur either through physical or
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emotional means.


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d. "Voluntarily Committed Child" is one whose parent(s} or legal guardian 
knowingly and willingly relinquished parental authority to the DSWD or to 
any duly accredited child-placement or child-caring agency or institution.
e. "Trust Entity" refers to a government financial institution with a proven 
track record in the banking industry which accepts deposits and offers 
trust services;
f. "Trust Fund for the Abandoned; Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed 
Child" refers to a special fund set aside for the children under the care of 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD) or any DSWD- 
accredited child-caring institution. The said fund shall operate as a special 
trust fund managed by a reputable trust entity;
g. "Child-Caring Institution" refers to any twenty-four-hour resident group 
care service for the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of nine 
or more abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children that is 
coordinated with the DSWD;
h. "Guardian" refers to the owner of and/or any elder in the child-caring 
institution tasked to keep an eye on the abandoned, neglected, or 
voluntarily committed child;
SECTION 4. Coverage - This Act shall cover all abandoned, neglected, or 
voluntarily committed children, under the care of the DSWD or DSWD-accredited 
child-caring institutions that may be recognized by the DSWD in accordance with the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
SECTION 5. National Monitoring System for Abandoned, Neglected, or 
Voluntarily Committed Children - The DSWD, in coordination with other 
government agencies tasked with caring for the welfare and development of children 
and the youth, shall come up with a comprehensive monitoring system to address the 
needs of the abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children. This system 
shall include, but not limited to, coming up with an updated data on the number, 
location, and personal profile of abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed 
children; profiling of child-caring institutions nationwide; and establishing a 
transparent mechanism that would provide a grant of a reasonable lump sum grant 
to abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children who already turned 18 
years old and are ready to lead a life on their own.
SECTION 6. Trust Fund For Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily 
Committed Children - A trust fund account in a trust entity shall be opened in the 
name of every covered abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children 
under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be entered into by the DSWD and a 
trust entity. The DSWD, sourcing it from a regular annual appropriation item in its 
budget, shall deposit the sum of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 
12,500.00) quarterly in every trust fund account until the account matures, unless 
terminated earlier by the DSWD due to the death or ineligibility of the recipient.


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Each trust fund account shall be opened by the DSWD based on a verified list 
of abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children submitted by their 
respective child-caring institutions. To maintain the real purchasing value of the said 
amount through the years, it shall be increased by the DSWD every three (3) years in 
proportion to the average inflation rate for the said period as certified by the National 
Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Each covered abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child shall be 
entitled to the said quarterly deposit in his/her trust fund for the entire duration that 
he/she was in an orphanage or child-caring institution until he/she reaches the age 
of eighteen (18).
If a covered abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child is adopted 
by a foster family before he/she reaches the age of eighteen (18), he/she is still 
entitled to receive the lumpsum amount of the trust fund for the entire duration of 
his/her stay at the respective child-caring institutions.
In the event that the abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child has 
been rendered ineligible to receive the said fund, or dies prior to reaching the age of 
majority, the trust fund for such minor shall be forfeited in favor of the State.
SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The DSWD shall incorporate the budgetary 
requirements of this Act in their annual budget proposal.
SECTION 8. Disqualification from the Grant. - The DSWD shall issue the 
guidelines enumerating the grounds and procedure for disqualification from the 
grant under this Act.
SECTION 9. Release of the Grant. - The grant envisioned for every 
abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed child under this Act shall be released 
in tranches starting from the date the intended recipient turns eighteen (18) years 
old.
SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DSWD, in 
consultation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the 
National Economic and Development Authority, non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) and other agencies they deem necessary to consult, shall issue the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) within ninety (90) days after the approval 
of this Act.
SECTION 11. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof.
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


SECTION 13. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,