Bill seeks special trust fund for abandoned kids

The House Committee on the Welfare of Children has passed a consolidated bill seeking the setting up of a special trust fund with an annual allocation of P50,000 for every abandoned, neglected, and voluntarily committed child under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, chairman of the panel, said under the bill, the trust fund can be tapped by neglected children who will leave the DSWD's care upon reaching the age of 18.

Romualdez described as "commendable" her colleague's efforts to create a national program and trust fund for neglected children.

"We, in the committee, also consider the bill a priority measure as the principal author is no less than the Speaker of the House, Alan Peter Cayetano,” she said, referring to House Bill No. 3 authored by Speaker Cayetano.

Cayetano's bill was consolidated with the measures filed by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado and An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel.

The bill also mandates the DSWD to create a transparent mechanism that would ensure a "reasonable" lump sum grant to abandoned, neglected, or voluntarily-committed children who turn 18 years old and are ready to lead a life of their own.

"A trust fund account in a trust entity shall be opened in the name of every covered child under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be entered into by the DSWD and the chosen trust entity," the bill said.

The measure requires the DWSD to deposit R12,500 quarterly in every trust fund until the account matures, unless terminated by the DSWD due to the death or ineligibility of the recipient.