BULACAN 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado has filed a measure that seeks to provide for a national program to support and care for the abandoned, neglected, and voluntary committed children.

House Bill 4218 aims to create a special trust fund for these.

According to the United Nations’ Children’s Rights and Emergency Relief Organization, about 1.8 million children in the country are either abandoned or neglected.

Meanwhile, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund said that more than one in every 10 Filipino children betweeen ages five and 14 are engaged in child labor.

House Bill 4218 mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with other government agencies, to come up with a comprehensive monitoring system to address the needs of abandoned, neglected or voluntary committed children.

The system shall include an updated data on the number, location, and personal profile of abandoned, neglected or voluntary committed children, profiling of child-caring institution nationwide and establishing a transparent mechanism that would provide a grant of reasonable lump sum grant to abandoned, neglected or voluntary committed children who already turned 18 years old and are ready to lead a life of their own.

Under the measure, a trust fund shall be opened in the name of every covered abandoned, neglected, or voluntary committed children.

The DSWD shall deposit the sum of P12,5000 quarterly in every trust fund account until the account matures.

Each covered child shall be entitled to the quarterly deposit until he or she reaches the age of 18.