Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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 
Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “States Parties 
undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her 
well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal 
guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, and, to this end, shall 
take all appropriate legislative and administrative measures.”  
In addition, Article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states: 
“States Parties shall recognize for every child the right to benefit from social security, 
including social insurance, and shall take the necessary measures to achieve the full 
realization of this right in accordance with their national law. The benefits should, 
where appropriate, be granted, taking into account the resources and the 
circumstances of the child and persons having responsibility for the maintenance of 
the child, as well as any other consideration relevant to an application for benefits 
made by or on behalf of the child.”  
Furthermore, Section 3, Article XV of the 1987 Constitution states: “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. 
October 7, 2022
4:44 pm
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In line with the aforementioned provisions, this bill seeks to further strengthen 
the needs of abandoned, neglected, and voluntarily committed children, by creating a 
trust fund for them, with the end in view that these children will become productive 
members of society.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is highly sought.  


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Trust Fund for the 
Abandoned, Neglected, or Voluntarily Committed Child". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - In line with the State policy recognizing 
the vital role of the youth in nation-building and the State's duty to promote and protect 
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, it is hereby declared 
a policy of the State to support and care for children who have been abandoned, 
neglected or voluntarily committed in accordance with the duty of the State under the 
doctrine of parens patriae or guardian of the rights of the people. The duty of the State 
becomes even more imperative in light of the constitutional mandate that the State 
shall strengthen the family as a basic social institution. This is especially so when the 
relatives or guardians of these children fail, refuse or are incapable of providing for the 
needs of the said children. The State shall thereby establish a trust fund for such 
children to be withdrawn only upon their reaching the age of majority. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms are defined: 
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 
guardianship, or whose parent(s) have deserted him /her for a period of at 
least three (3) continuous months. 
c) "Neglected Child" refers to a child whose basic needs have been 
deliberately unattended or inadequately attended within a period of three (3) 
continuous months. Neglect may occur either through physical or emotional 
means. 
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 that 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 abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children. This system shall 
include, but is not limited to, coming up with updated data on the number, location, 
and personal profile of abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily committed children; 
profiling 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 trusted 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 
 


The 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. 
 
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 lump sum 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 
died or becomes ineligible, 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 Council 
for the Welfare of Children (CWC), 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) newspapers of general circulation. 


 
Approved,