FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REI?uBLrc OF TME P H I L P P ~ S  
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Sonnv” F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
One of the primary strengths of the commission system is in the involvement of citizens in 
making decisions and evaluating the results for their own communities. Local ownership of 
process often brings more efficiency of service and greater leverage of resources. Residents of 
each community are involved in developing the plans, selecting programs and initiatives to 
implement the plans, and evaluating the results of that work. 
Arcnrdicgly, the creation of Families Conmission aims to provide for a progressive piiblic 2nd 
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% work. The Commission shali be committed to locally-driven, results- 
oriented change through: 
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informed and effective public policy; 
passhate voice md sti~i~g 
xivocacy oii behalfaffamZes; 
engagement of diverse communities to plan and develop shared action on children’s 
issues and; 
wise investment of resources with a preventative focus on healthy families. 
Thus, the Families Commission Act, 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. 
Senator 
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SENATE 
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Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Sonnv” F. TriIIanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTA3USHlhG THE FM-S 
COMIvflSSION, PROVEQMG FtJNDS TBREFOR, 
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 !mown as the “Families Commission 
Act of 2009”. 
SEC. 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 number 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. 
SEC. 3. Cornmission established- This section establishes the Families Commission. 
SEC. 4. Commission’s main function- 
(1) The Commission’s main hction is to act as an advocate for the interests of families 
generally. 
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(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. 
SEC. 5. Commlssion's additional functions.- In 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 commuNty 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 
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(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 
functions0 
(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 ths 
section. 
SEC. 6. Diversity of FilZgino familis.- 
(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. 
SEC. 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. 
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SEC. 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 (l)(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; 
(c) 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. 
SEC. 9. Capaciw andyowers.- 
(1) 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. 
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(2) The Commission shall exercise said powers only for the purpose of performing its 
functions. 
SEC. 10. Membership of Commission- 
(1) The Commission consists 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. 
SEC. 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 ofthis Act. 
SEC. 12. Ability to 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; 
SEC. 13. Board may appoint committees.- 
(1) The board mav. bv resolution. avvoint one (1) or more committees to--- 
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(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 
@) 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 15. Funding.- The sum necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
appropriated in the general annual appropriations. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 17. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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