REVILLA URGES SUPPORT FOR PINOY ORPHANS

        Alarmed by the burgeoning number of orphaned children in the country, Senator Bong Revilla filed a bill that seeks to provide assistance and support for abandoned children in the form of a trust fund.

        SBN 3355, also known as "Welfare Program for the Care of Orphans Bill", of Revilla aims to provide for a trust fund account for each orphaned minor under DSWD-accredited private orphanages, public orphanages, and other child caring institutions recognized by the DSWD. An amount of ten thousand pesos (PhP10,000) shall be deposited quarterly in every trust fund account for the entire duration that the orphan was in an orphanage or child-caring institution until s/he reaches the age of 18.

        The senator cited figures gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO) showing that from 2005 to 2006, there are already more than three million orphaned children (whose ages range from 1-12 years) in the Philippines .

        "The figures are indeed alarming and must immediately be given action. These justify the need to protect our orphaned minors. They have suffered enough because they've already lost their parents to death, or they were abandoned by their own family," said Revilla.

        He also pointed out Article 5, Section 3 of the Constitution that states that the government 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.

        "Aside from our Constitution, we also have Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act which states that it shall be a government policy to protect and rehabilitate children gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect or will affect their survival and normal development," Revilla said.

        The assistance shall be increased by the DSWD every three years in proportion to the average inflation rate certified by NEDA.

        "When the orphan reaches legal age, the trust fund shall be of great help to the beneficiary. We always say that the youth are the future of our nation. Let's walk the talk," Revilla ended.