National Family Commission of the Philippines Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL -3 P4:02 First Regular Session SENATE --- S. No. 80 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A FAMILY COMMISSION EXPLANATORY NOTE Family is the foundation upon which our society is built. It provides love, support and care that help shape children to become responsible citizens. It also enhances children's awareness and instills social values. Article XV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution expressly provides that "The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development." Executive Order No. 209, which came into effect on August 3, 1988, specifically governs family relations which include marriage, parental authority, adoption and child support. The family has a crucial role in teaching positive social values to children, who, by the time they become adults, are responsible for the future of the nation. Thus, the future of the society and the nation depends of the strength and core values of the family.

This measure seeks to create the National Commission on the Family that will cater to the needs and demands of every Filipino family. The new state agency is mandated to formulate and recommend policies to strengthen the solidarity and promote the total development of the Filipino family. As such, approval of this measure is urgently requested. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session JUL - 3 P4:02 SENATE ---- S. No. - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A FAMILY COMMISSION 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 "National Family

2 Commission of the Philippines Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The family is the basic social unit of the

4 Philippine society. As such, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to institute all 5 programs geared towards the preservation and strengthening of the family as an institution.

Sec. 3. Creation of the National Family Commission. - There is hereby

8 created a National Family Commission that shall serve as the primary policy 9 formulation and data collection agency geared towards fulfilling the constitutional mandate to strengthen and protect the family as a basic social unit of the Philippine society and attached to the Office of the President.

Sec. 4. National Family Commission Officers, - The Commission shall be

headed by a Chairperson and assisted by four (4) Commissioners who shall be of good moral character, of recognized standing in the community, and with expertise in social work, community development, sociology, psychology, domestic relations, 16 family and matrimonial relations law, guidance counseling, or other similar fields.

1 They shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines for a one-time term of six 2 (6) years with no reappointment.

Sec. 5. Executive Council - There is hereby created an Executive Council

composed of the following: a) The Chairperson of the Commission as Chairperson; b) The Secretary of the Department of Justice as member; c) The Secretary of the Department of Education as member; d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare as member; e) The Secretary of the Department of Labor as member; 1) The Secretary of the Department of Health; 9) The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government; h) The Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority; and i) A representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority. The Executive Council shall be the policymaking body of the Commission.

Sec. 6. Powers of the Commission. - The Commission shall have the

following powers: a) Establish a national database on information on family matters, problems and implemented solutions particularly those from other jurisdictions; b) Formulate policies on the development of family ties and the resolution of common family problems; c) Formulate programs that would develop the interrelationship of family members with each other and with other members of the community; d) Institute a nationwide family program with emphasis on how to face the challenges of the modern millennium; and e) Institute other programs that they may be determined by the Executive Board.

Sec. 7. Secretariat. - There is hereby created a secretariat to assist the

Commissioners in the discharge of their functions. The secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director who should also be a respected member of and an expert in the sector.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions

2 of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act were

5 to be declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 6 affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,