FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 509 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Art. XV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution expressly provides, thus: 
"Section 1. The Sate recognizes the Filipino family 
as the foundation of the nation. 
Accordingly, it shall 
strengthen its solidarity and 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 1988 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 socially-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 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. 
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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. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
.SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
509 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. 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. 
SEC. 2. Functions of the Commission. The Commission shall have the 
following powers and functions: 
a) To undertake stUdies on the Filipino family, including a periodic review 
and evaluation of the various issues and problems that currently 
confront it; 
b) To monitor compliance with, and periodically assess the impact of 
government programs, policies, laws, and regulations relating to the 
family, women and children; 
c) 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; 
d) To periodically prepare a Family Development Plan, as part of the 
general development plan of the Philippines; 
e) 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; 
g) 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. 
SEC. 3. 
Board of Commissioners. 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 counseling, or other similar fields: Provided, That the 
following sectors shall be represented: the youth, the women, the cultural 
communities and the academe. 
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. 
SEC. 4. 
Powers and Duties of the Board. The Bard shall have the 
following powers and duties: 
a) To formulate, implement, and evaluate the activities and programs of 
the Commission; 
b) To determine and create the organizational structure of the staff of the 
Commission; 
c) To prescribe pOlicies, adopt plans and programs, formulate rules and 
regulations and establish procedures governing the operation of the 
Commission; 
d) To approve the annual or supplemental budgets of the Commission; 
and; 
e) 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; 
SEC. 5. Chairman of the Board. Powers, functions and duties. The 
Chairman shall have the following powers and duties: 
a) To call and preside over the meetings of the Board; 
b) To solicit and accept, on behalf of the Commission, gifts, grants or 
donations; 
c) 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 
d) To perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President. 


SEC. 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. 
SEC. 7. Staff. 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. 
SEC. 8. 
Donations. 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 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. 
SEC. 9. 
Funding. The sum of Three million pesos (P3,OOO,OOO,OO) 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 Commission. 
SEC. 10. Assistance from Government Offices. 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. 
SEC. 11. 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 recommendations. 
SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. All laws, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. If any part, section or provision of this Act 
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision shall 
be affected thereby. 


SEC. 14. Date of Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,