NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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)
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SENATE
s.B. No. 2523
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of il)e . Hiiiy
24 FEB-5 P4 30
RECEIVED BV:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
REORGANIZING THE COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN INTO THE 
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The children of the Philippines deserve the best country that we can give them. 
This means dedicating State resources and an efficient bureaucracy to ensure that their 
needs are being met adequately. While other sectors in the country have dedicated 
Commissions to serve their needs, Filipino children do not have this privilege.
Addressing this deficiency, this Bill is intended to reorganize the Council for the 
Welfare of Children into the Philippine Commission on Children. The Philippine Commission 
on Children shall, among others, serve as an oversight body over committees, councils, 
and other structures and recommend areas of convergence for an improved and efficient 
coordination, information-sharing and monitoring of the safety and well-being of a child, 
and formulate integrated national policy, plans, programs, and pilot projects including 
services relative to the development of the general welfare and protection of the best 
interests of the child.
The Philippine Commission on Children Act provides for the composition of the 
Commission, its powers and functions, the Technical Advisory Group and other provisions 
especially created to promote the welfare of children. It also mandates the creation of 
policies that further ensure the protection of children and the preservation of their 
childhood.
To quote Jan Andres, who is five years old turning six, "children should be loved 
and protected from bad people." Towards the attainment of this simply-stated aspiration, 
our entire society must converge.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS
f


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 2529
of Hh’ ~
24 FEB-5 P4:30
RECEIVED BV; 
/
J
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
REORGANIZING THE COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN INTO THE 
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Commission
2 
of Children Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Deciaration ofPoiicy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote the
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welfare of the children. As children play a big role towards the development of the
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country, it is only necessary that the formulation of policies and the implementation
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of laws relative to children's welfare be ensured by the State.
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Sec. 3. Reorganization of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) into the
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Philippine Commission on Children. - The Council for the Welfare of Children Is hereby
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reorganized into the Philippine Commission on Children, hereinafter referred to as the
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"Commission", attached to the Office of the President (OP).
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Sec. 4. Composition of the Commission. - The Commission shall be composed
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of a Board of Commissioners to be headed by a Chairperson who shall provide the
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leadership in the realization of the vision and mission of the Commission.
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The chairperson shall have the rank and privileges of a department
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undersecretary. The appointive commissioners shall have the rank and privileges of a
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department undersecretary. The appointive commissioner shall have the ranks and
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privileges of an assistant secretary of a department.
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The Board of Commissioners shall be composed of the following:


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a) 
Heads of the following government officer:
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i. 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
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ii. 
Department of Agriculture (DA);
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iii. 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
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iv. 
Department of Health (DOH);
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V. 
Department of Interior and Locai Government (DILG);
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Vi. 
Department of Justice (DOJ);
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vii. 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
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viii. 
National Economic Deveiopment Authority (NEDA);
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ix. 
Nationai Nutrition Councii (NNC);
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X. 
Nationai Youth Commission (NYC); and
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xi. 
Convergence of Councils and Committees on Chiidren (Four Cs).
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b) 
Three (3) private individuals recognized as chiid advocates representing
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Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;
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c) 
One (1) chiid representative; and
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d) 
The Executive Director of Commission.
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The Chairperson and Commissioners shaii be appointed by the President from
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a list of at least three (3) but not more than five (5) nominees from each position,
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submitted by child-serving organizations or institutions in their respective areas duiy
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registered with the Securities and Exchange Council (SEC). They shall serve for a term
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of three (3) years, with reappointment for another term.
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Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Commission shaii have the foiiowing
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powers and functions:
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a) 
Formuiate an integrated national policy, pian, programs, 
and piiot
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projects including services reiative to the development of general welfare and
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protection of the best interests of the chiid;
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b) 
Coordinate the implementation and enforcement of poiicies, pians, and
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programs relative to the promotion and protection of child's rights and weifare;
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c) 
Set up a system of networking and coordination with and among ali
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existing government agencies and non-government organizations for the effective
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implementation of plans and strategies for chiidren;


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d) 
Serve as an oversight body over committees, councils, and other
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structures and recommend areas of convergence for an improved and efficient
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coordination information, information-sharing and monitoring of the safety and weil-
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being of a child;
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e) 
Conduct research and studies on children in coordination with other
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government agencies, bureaus, offices, departments, or instrumentalities;
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f) 
Review, monitor and evaluate all local and international policies, plans,
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projects and programs on the right of the child, by establishing a third party monitoring
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and evaluation system;
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g) 
Advocate, recommend for approval of the President and 
other
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appropriate agencies, and implement on a nationwide scale when appropriate, new,
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innovative, programs and services for the general welfare and protection of the child;
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h) 
To mainstream the concerns and issues affecting children and to provide
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and maintain the necessary medium to perform such function;
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i) 
Provide avenues for the institutionalization, technical assistance, and the
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needed capacity building for the effective implementation of policies, programs and
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projects of the Commission, especially those that involve the setting up or
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strengthening of mechanisms for, by, and with children;
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j) 
Mobilize resource assistance and call upon and utilize a department,
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bureau, office, agency, or any instrumentalities thereof, public, private, or voluntary,
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for such assistance as it may require in the performance of its functions;
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k) 
Ensure convergence efforts in addressing children's issues and concerns
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among councils and committees through an improved and efficient coordination in
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planning, data-sharing and align monitoring and oversight practices;
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I) 
Enter into contracts facilitating the implementation of undertakings for
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children and the acceptance of donations, gifts, bequests, and grants, among others;
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m) 
Submit annually to the President and to Congress a comprehensive
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report on its activities and accomplishments; and
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n) 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary to effectively and
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efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Technical Advisory Group. - A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) shall be
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created under the Commission. The TAG shall deliberate on the concerns and _ the


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recommendations of the sectoral committees, sub-committees, and other relevant 
structures. It shall also submit recommendations to the Commission on needed policy 
guidelines, projects and activities for the welfare of children. It shall be composed of 
bureau and service heads or equivalent of member agencies and organizations as 
appropriate. The TAG shall also be composed of one representative each of the Board 
of Commissioners enumerated in Section 4 hereof.
The TAG shall convene quarterly, to be attended by the heads of the 
aforementioned agencies, to submit policy and programmatic recommendations for 
adoption of the Commission. All resolutions adopted by the Commission shall be 
officially forwarded to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, for endorsement to the 
President. The TAG may invite relevant government and non-government and other 
institutions and agencies for technical assistance, as deemed necessary.
Sec. 7. Secretariat - The Commission shall organize a secretariat that will serve 
as its executive arm to be headed by an Executive Director, assisted by a Deputy 
Executive Director, who shall ensure the implementation of resolutions and decisions 
and shall take charge of the administration, direction, and shall exercise general 
supervision and control over the personnel of the Secretariat.
The Secretariat shall be composed of the following Bureaus organized in 
coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM):
a) 
Bureau on Coordinating, Planning and Programming
i. 
Policy and Planning Division
ii. 
Monitoring and Evaluation Division
b) 
Bureau of Communication and External Affairs
i. 
Advocacy and Communications Division
ii. 
External Partnership Division
c) 
Bureau of Localization and Regional Coordination
i. 
Localization and Institutionalization Division
ii. 
Regional Committees/Sub-Committees for
of Children(RC/SCWC)
d) 
Bureau on Administrative, Finance and Support Services
i. 
Administrative and Finance Division
the Welfare


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ii. 
Procurement and Supply Division
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iii. 
Internal Audit Division
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The Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director shali be nominated by
4 
the Board of Commissioners and shali be subsequently appointed by the President
5 
with the rank, privileges and emoluments Career Executives Service Officer II and
6 
Career Services Officer I, respectively, and shall receive such other allowances and
7 
benefits as may be provided by law.
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Sec. 8. Sectoral Committees and Sub-Committees. - Sectoral committees shall
9 
hereby be created and enumerated in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this
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Act, following the concerns of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Should
11 
the need arise, committees or sub-committees may be modified or created to address
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emerging or specific concerns of children.
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Sec. 9. Convergence of Councils and Committees on Children (Four Cs). - The
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Four Cs shall be created as the system of collaboration and coordination among all
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councils and committees to specifically address concerns on children. It shall ensure
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effective and harmonious work relationship among all structures on children and to
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address their issues at the national, regional and local levels.
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The Four Cs shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Councils which were
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created based on already existing laws, as follows:
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1. 
Committee for the Special Protection of Children;
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2. 
National Child Labor Committee;
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3. 
National Council on Children's Television
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4. 
Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking;
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5. 
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children;
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6. 
Juvenile Justice Welfare Council;
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7. 
Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography;
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8. 
Inter-Agency Committee on Children in Armed Conflict;
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9. 
Early Childhood Care and Development Council;
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10. 
National Council on Disability Affairs.
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All the other and subsequent councils and committees created with direct
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implications on children shall be a part of the Four Cs. The Commissions shall issue a
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Resolution to formalize these memberships.


1 
The Four Cs shall convene quarterly, to be attended by the Chairperson or the
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Alternate Chairpersons of the member agencies, to submit poiicy recommendation for
3 
adoption of the Commission, Ali resolutions adopted by the Commission shail aiso be
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officially forwarded to the Chairperson of the Commission.
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The Commission shall oversee the implementation of the Resolutions among
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the members of the Four Cs.
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Sec. 10. Membership to Agencies Created by Speciai Laws and issuances on
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Chiidren. - The Commission shali take the piace of the Council for the Welfare of
9 
Children as member and ensure coordination with agencies created under special laws
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and issuances such as:
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1. 
The Special Committee for the Protection of Chiidren (under Republic
12 
Act 7610 and strengthened under Executive Order No. 53 s. 2011);
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2. 
The Nationai Child Labor Committee (created under the DOLE'S
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Philippine Plan of Action against Child Labor);
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3. 
National Council on Children's Television (under Repubiic Act No. 8370);
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4. 
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (under Repubiic Act. No.
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9208);
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5. 
The Inter-Agency on Violence Against Women and their Children (under
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Republic Act No. 9262);
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6. 
The Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (under Republic Act. No. 9344);
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7. 
The Inter-Agency Council Against Chiid Pornography (under Repubiic Act
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No. 9775); and
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8. 
The Inter-Agency Council on Children in Armed Conflict (Executive Order
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No. 138 s. 2013).
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Sec. 11. Honoraria. - The Chairperson and Board of Commissioners, member
26 
of the sectorai committees, sub-committees, task forces and other structures that may
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be created under the Commissions shail receive honoraria which shail be subject to
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existing iaws.
29 
Sec. 12. The Commission shali make sure that ali municipalities and cities shall
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have a safe, clean, child-centered outdoor playground where all children can play in
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for free.


1 
Sec. 13. Transitory Provisions. — Upon approval of this Act, the officers and
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staff of the Secretariat of the Council for the Welfare of Children shall continue to
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perform their duties and responsibilities and receive their corresponding salaries and
4 
benefits. Incumbents whose positions are not included in the approved new staffing
5 
pattern of the Commission or not reappointed shall be deemed separated from the
6 
service. Such incumbents shall receive the retirement benefits to which they may be
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entitled under existing laws, rules and regulations, or shall be paid the equivalent of
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one (1) month basic salary for every year of service or the equivalent nearest fraction
9 
thereof favorable to them on the basis of the highest salary received, in addition to
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the retirement benefits or pensions under existing retirement laws.
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A new position structure and staffing pattern of the Commission Secretariat
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shall be determined by the Chairperson and Executive Director, in consultation with
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the Board of Commissioners, and recommended for approval by the Secretary of the
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Department of Budget and Management with due concurrence of the Civil Service
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Commission within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the approval of this Act.
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Authorized positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular appointments. The
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authority of the Executive Director shall extend to: (1) appointments and other
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personnel actions in accordance to Section 29, Chapter 6, Book IV of Executive Order
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No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987.
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Sec. 14. Deiineation of Authority over the Age Groups between the Nationai
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Youth Commission and the Phiiippine Commission on Chiidren. - All policy and
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programmatic concerns of child youth, aged 15-18, shall be the sole mandate of the
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Philippine Commission on Children. The definition of children and youth shall be clearly
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differentiated in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.
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Sec. 15. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). - The Secretariat, in
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coordination with the Board of Commissioners, shall promulgate the IRR within ninety
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(90) days after its enactment; Provided, That the rules and regulations issued by other
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government agencies and instrumentalities for the prevention or abatement of
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violation of child's rights not inconsistent with this Act shall supplement the rules and
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regulations issued by the CWC pursuant to the provisions of this Act.


1 
Sec. 16. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cover the initial
2 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
3 
of the concerned implementing departments/agencies.
4 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the initial amount of One
5 
hundred million pesos (P 100,000,000.00) as additional funding for the Commission
6 
to be charged against the unexpended contingency funds of the Office of the
7 
President.
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be
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included in the budget of the concerned agency in the annual General Appropriations
10 
Act.
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Adequate funds shall be appropriated annually from any funds in the National
12 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated but may be necessary for the operation and
13 
maintenance of the Commission including the effective functioning of RC/SCWs and
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LCPCs.
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Sec. 17. Repeaiing Clause. - All laws, orders, orders, rules and regulations
16 
inconsistent with or contrary of the provision of this act are deemed amended,
17 
modified or repealed accordingly.
18 
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
19 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectiveness of the other
20 
provisions hereof.
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Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
22 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of the general circulations. 
Approved,