Laws and Issuances on

Children

Law Number Main and Short Titles of
the Law
Date Approved
1. Act No. 3753
(childrelated law)
Law on Registry of Civil Status 26 November 1930
2. Act No. 3815
(childrelated law)
An Act Revising the Penal Code and Other
Penal Laws
(The Revised Penal Code)
08 December 1930
3. Republic Act No. 386
(childrelated law)
An Act to Ordain and Institute the Civil
Code of the Philippines
(The Civil Code of the Philippines)
18 June 1949
4. Republic Act No. 679 An Act to Regulate the Employment of
Women and Children, to Provide Penalties
for Violation Hereof, and for Other
Purposes
15 April 1952
5. Republic Act No. 4834 An Act Creating a Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court in the Province of Iloilo
16 June, 1966
6. Republic Act No. 4836 An Act Creating a Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court in Quezon City, by
Amending the Charter of Quezon City
18 June, 1966
7. Republic Act No. 4881 An Act Creating Council for the Protection
of Children in Every City and Municipality
of the Philippines and for Other Purposes
17 June 1967
8. Presidential Decree No. 442
(childrelated law)
A Decree Instituting a Labor Code,
Thereby Revising and Consolidating Labor
and Social Laws to Afford Protection to
Labor, Promote Employment and Human
Resources Development and Ensure
Industrial Peace Based on Social Justice
(Labor Code of the Philippines)
01 May 1974
9. Presidential Decree No. 603 The Child and Youth Welfare Code 10 December 1974
10. Presidential Decree No. 1083
(childrelated law)
A Decree to Ordain and Promulgate a
Code Recognizing the System of Filipino
Muslim Laws, Codifying Muslim Personal
Laws, and Providing for its Administration
and for Other Purposes
(Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the
Philippines)
04 February 1977
11. Presidential Decree No. 1179

Amending Certain Provisions of Chapter
Three, Title Eight of Presidential Decree
Numbered Six Hundred and Three
Otherwise Known as the Child and Youth
Welfare Code and for Other Purposes

15 August 1977
12. Presidential Decree No. 1210

11 October 1977
Amending Certain Provisions of Chapter
Three, Title Eight of Presidential Decree
Numbered Six Hundred and Three
Otherwise Known as the Child and Youth
Welfare Code and for Other Purposes

13. Presidential Decree No.1563
(childrelated law)
Establishing an Integrated System for the
Control and Eradication of Mendicancy,
Providing Penalties, Appropriating Funds
Therefor and for Other Purposes
11 June 1978
14. Presidential Decree No.1567 Establishing a Day Care Center in
EveryBarangay and Appropriating Funds
Therefor
11 June 1978
15. Presidential Decree No. 1619 Penalizing the Use or Possession or the
Unauthorized Sale to Minors of Volatile
Substances for the Purpose of Inducing
Intoxication or in Any Manner Changing,
Distorting or Disturbing the Auditory,
Visual or Mental Process
23 July 1979
16. Batas Pambansa Bilang 129 An Act Reorganizing the Judiciary,
Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for
Other Purposes
(The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980)
14 August 1981
17. Batas Pambansa Bilang 232 An Act Providing for The Establishment
and Maintenance of an Integrated System
of Education.
(Education Act of 1982)
11 September 1982
18. Executive Order No. 51, Series of
1986
Adopting a National Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk
Supplements and Related Products,
Penalizing Violations Thereof, and for
Other Purposes
(The National Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk
Supplements and Other Related Products)
20 October 1986
19. Executive Order No. 56, Series of
1986
Authorizing the Ministry of Social Services
and Development to Take Protective
Custody of Child Prostitutes and Sexually
Exploited Children, and for Other
Purposes
06 November 1986
20. Executive Order No. 209, Series of
1986
(childrelated law)
The Family Code of the Philippines 06 July 1987
21. Republic Act No. 6655 An Act Establishing and Providing for Free
Public Secondary and for Other Purposes
(Free Public Secondary Education Act of
1988)
26 May 1988
22. Republic Act No. 6728 An Act Providing Government Assistance
to Students and Teachers in Private
Education and Appropriating Funds
Therefore
(Government Assistance to Students and
Teachers in Private Education Act)
07 June 1989
23. Republic Act No. 6809 An Act Lowering the Age of Majority from
TwentyOne to Eighteen Years Amending
for the Purpose Executive Order
Numbered Two Hundred Nine, and for
Other Purposes
13 December 1989
24. Republic Act No. 6972 An Act Establishing a Day Care Center in
Every Barangay, Instituting Therein a Total
Development and Protection of Children
Program, Appropriating Funds Therefor,
and for Other Purposes.
(BarangayLevel Total Development and
Protection Children Act)
23 November 1990
25. Republic Act No. 7160
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for a Local Government
Code of 1991
(Local Government Code of 1991)
10 October 1991
26. Republic Act No. 7277
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation,
SelfDevelopment and SelfReliance of
Disabled Persons and Their Integration
Into the Mainstream of Society and for
Other Purposes
(Magna Carta for Disabled Persons)
24 March 1992
27. Republic Act No. 7323 An Act to Help Poor but Deserving
Students Pursue Their Education by
Encouraging Their Employment During
Summer and/or Christmas Vacations,
Through Incentives Granted to Employers,
Allowing Them to only Sixty Per Centum of
Their Salaries or Wages and the Forty Per
Centum Through Education Vouchers to
be Paid by the Government, Prohibiting
and Penalizing the Filing of Fraudulent of
Fictitious Claims and for Other Purposes.
30 March 1992
28. Republic Act No. 7600 An Act Providing Incentives to All
Government and Private Health
Institutions with Roomingin and
Breastfeeding Practices and for Other
Purposes
(The Roomingin and Breastfeeding Act of
1992)
02 June 1992
29. Republic Act No. 7610 An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence
and Special Protection Against Child
Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination,
Providing Penalties for Its Violation, and
for Other Purposes.
(Special Protection of Children Against
Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act)
17 June 1992
30. Republic Act No. 7624 An Act Integrating Drug Prevention and
Control in the Intermediate Secondary
Curricula as Well as in the Nonformal,
Informal and Indigenous Learning Systems
and for Other Purposes.
11 July 1992
31. Republic Act No. 7658 An Act Prohibiting the Employment of
Children Below 15 Years of Age in Public
and Private Undertakings, Amending for
this Purpose, Section 12, Article
VIII of Republic Act No. 7610
09 November 1993
32. Republic Act No. 7797 An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar
from Two Hundred (200) Days to Not More
than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class
Days
25 August 1994
33. Republic Act No. 7798 An Act Amending Section 25 of Batas
Pambansa Bilang 232, Otherwise Known
as the Education Act of 1982
25 August 1994
34. Republic Act No. 7846 An Act Requiring Compulsory
Immunization against HepatitisB for
Infants and Children Below Eight (8) Years
Old, Amending for the
Purpose, Presidential Decree No. 996, and
Appropriating Funds Therefor
30 December 1994
35. Republic Act No. 7880
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for the Fair and Equitable
Allocation of the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports Budget for Capital
Outlay
(Fair and Equitable Access to Education
Act)
20 February 1995
36. Republic Act No. 8043 An Act Establishing the Rules to Govern
InterCountry Adoption of Filipino
Children, and for Other Purposes
(InterCountry Adoption Act of 1995)
07 June 1995
37. Republic Act No. 8044
(childrelated law)
An Act Creating the National Youth
Commission, Establishing a National
Comprehensive and Coordinated Program
on Youth Development, Appropriating
Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes
(Youth in Nation Building Act)
07 June 1995
38. Republic Act No. 8172
(childrelated law)
An Act Promoting Salt Iodization
Nationwide and for Other Purposes
[An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide
(ASIN)]
29 December 1995
39. Republic Act No. 8296 An Act Declaring Every Second Sunday of
December as the National Childrens
Broadcasting Day
06 June 1997
40. Republic Act No. 8353
(childrelated law)
An Act Expanding the Definition of the
Crime of Rape, Reclassifying the Same as
a Crime Against Persons, Amending for
the PurposeAct No. 3815, as Amended,
Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal
Code, and for Other Purposes
(The AntiRape Act of 1997)
28 October 1997
41. Republic Act No. 8369 An Act Establishing Family Courts,
Granting the Exclusive Original Jurisdiction
over Child and Family Cases,
Amending Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, as
Amended, Otherwise Known as The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of
1980, Appropriating Funds Therefor and
for Other Purposes
(Family Courts Act of 1997)
28 October 1997
42. Republic Act No. 8370 Childrens Television Act of 1997 28 October 1997
43. Republic Act No. 8371 An Act to Recognize, Protect and Promote
the Rights of Indigenous Cultural
29 October 1997
(childrelated law) Communities/Indigenous Peoples,
Creating a National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples, Establishing
Implementing Mechanisms, Appropriating
Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes
[The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act
(IPRA) of 1997]
44. Republic Act No. 8425
(childrelated law)
An Act Instituting the Social Reform and
Poverty Alleviation Program, Creating for
the Purpose the National AntiPoverty
Commission, Defining Its Powers and
Functions, and for Other Purposes
(Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation
Act)
11 December 1997
45. Republic Act No. 8504
(childrelated law)
An Act Promulgating Policies and
Prescribing Measures for the Prevention
and Control of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines,
Instituting a Nationwide HIV/AIDS
Information and Educational Program,
Establishing a Comprehensive HIV/AIDS
Monitoring System, Strengthening The
Philippine National AIDS Council, and for
Other Purposes
(Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control
Act of 1998)
13 February 1998
46. Republic Act No. 8505
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing Assistance and
Protection for Rape Victims, Establishing
for the Purpose a Rape Crisis Center in
Every Province and City, Authorizing the
Appropriation of Funds Therefor, and for
Other Purposes
(Rape Victim Assistance and Protection
Act of 1998)
13 February 1998
47. Republic Act No. 8552 An Act Establishing the Rules and Policies
on the Domestic Adoption of Filipino
Children and for Other Purposes
(Domestic Adoption Act of 1998)
25 February 1998
48. Republic Act No. 8750
(childrelated law)
An Act Requiring the Mandatory
Compliance by Motorists of Private and
Public Vehicles to Use Seat Belts Devices,
and Requiring Vehicle Manufacturers to
Install Belt Devices in All Their
Manufactured Vehicles
(Seat Belts Use Act of 1999)
05 August 1999
49. Republic Act No. 8972
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for Benefits and
Privileges to Solo Parents and Their
Children, Appropriating Funds Therefor
and for Other Purposes
(Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000)
07 November 2000
50. Republic Act No. 8976
(childrelated law)
An Act Establishing the Philippine Food
Fortification Program and for Other
Purposes
(Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000)
07 November 2000
51. Republic Act No. 8980 An Act Promulgating a Comprehensive
Policy and a National System for Early
Childhood Care and Development
05 December 2000
(ECCD), Providing Funds Therefor and
For Other Purposes
(ECCD Act)
52. Republic Act No. 9155
(childrelated law)
An Act Instituting a Framework of
Governance for Basic Education,
Establishing Authority and Accountability,
Renaming the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports as the Department of
Education and for Other Purposes
(Governance of Basic Education Act of
2001)
11 August 2001
53. Republic Act No. 9164
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for
Synchronized Barangayand Sangguniang
Kabataan Elections, Amending Republic
Act No. 7160, as Amended, Otherwise
Known as the Local Government Code of
1991, and for Other Purposes
19 March 2002
54. Republic Act No. 9208 An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate
Trafficking in Persons Especially Women
and Children, Establishing the Necessary
Institutional Mechanisms for the Protection
and Support of Trafficked Persons,
Providing Penalties for Its Violations, and
for Other Purposes
(Antitrafficking in Persons Act of 2003)
26 May 2003
55. Republic Act No. 9211
(childrelated law)
An Act Regulating the Packaging, Use,
Sale, Distribution and Advertisements of
Tobacco Products and for Other Purposes
(Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003)
23 June 2003
56. Republic Act No. 9231 An Act Providing for the Elimination of the
Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording
Stronger Protection for the Working Child,
Amending for the Purpose Republic Act
No. 7610, Otherwise Known as the
Special Protection of Children From
Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
Act
19 December 2003
57. Republic Act No. 9255 An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to
Use the Surname of Their Father,
Amending for the Purpose Article 176
of Executive Order No. 209, Otherwise
Known as the Family Code of the
Philippines
24 February 2004
58. Republic Act No. 9262 An Act Defining Violence Against Women
and Their Children, Providing for
Protective Measures for
Victims, Prescribing Penalties Therefor,
and for Other Purposes.
(AntiViolence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004)
08 March 2004
59. Republic Act No. 9288 An Act Promulgating a Comprehensive
Policy and a National System for Ensuring
Newborn Screening
(Newborn Screening Act of 2004)
07 April 2004
60. Republic Act No. 9340 An Act Amending Republic Act No. 9164,
Resetting the Barangay and Sangguniang
22 September 2005
(childrelated law) Barangay Elections, and for Other
Purposes
61. Republic Act No. 9344 An Act Establishing a Comprehensive
Juvenile Justice and Welfare System,
Creating the Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Council Under the Department of Justice,
Appropriating Funds Therefor and for
Other Purposes
(Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act 0f 2006)
28 April 2006
62. Republic Act No. 9442
(childrelated law)
An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277,
Otherwise Known as Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons, and for Other
Purposes
30 April 2007
63. Republic Act No. 9500
(childrelated law)
An Act to Strengthen the University of the
Philippines as the National University
(The University of the Philippines Charter
of 2008)
29 April 2008
64. Republic Act No. 9502
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for Cheaper and Quality
Medicines, Amending for the Purpose
Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual
Property Code, Republic Act No. 6675 or
the Generics Act of 1988, and Republic
Act No. 5921 or the Pharmacy Law, and
for Other Purposes
(Universally Accessible Cheaper and
Quality Medicines Act of 2008)
06 June 2008
65. Republic Act No. 9504
(childrelated law)
An Act Amending Sections 22, 24, 34, 35,
51 and 79 of Republic Act No. 8424, as
Amended, Otherwise Known as the
Internal Revenue Act of 1987
22 August 2008
66. Republic Act No. 9512 An Act to Promote Environmental
Awareness Through Environmental
Education and for Other Purposes
(Environmental Awareness and Education
Act of 2008)
12 December 2008
67. Republic Act No. 9521
(childrelated law)
An Act Creating a National Book
Development Trust Fund to Support
Filipino Authorship
(National Book Development Trust Fund
Act)
05 March 2009
68. Republic Act No. 9523 An Act Requiring Certification of the
Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) to Declare a Child
Legally Available for Adoption as a
Prerequisite for Adoption Proceedings,
Amending for this Purpose Certain
Provisions of Republic Act of 1998,
Republic Act No. 8043, Otherwise Known
as the Intercountry Adoption Code,
Presidential Decree No. 603, Otherwise
Known as the Child and Youth Welfare
Code, and for Other Purposes
12 March 2009
69. Republic Act No. 9547 An Act Strengthening and Expanding the
Coverage of the Special Program for
Employment of Students, Amending for
the Purpose Provisions of Republic Act
No. 7323, Otherwise Known as the Special
01 April 2009
Program for Employment of Students
70. Republic Act No. 9647
(childrelated law)
An Act Designating the Philippine Normal
University as the Countrys National
Center for Teacher Education,
Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for
Other Purposes
(Philippine Normal University
Modernization Act of 2009)
30 June 2009
71. Republic Act No. 9709 An Act Establishing a Universal Newborn
Hearing Screening Program for the
Prevention, Early Diagnosis and
Intervention of Hearing Loss
(Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
and Intervention Act of 2009)
12 August 2009
72. Republic Act No. 9710
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of
Women
(The Magna Carta of Women)
14 August 2009
73. Republic Act No. 9745
(childrelated law)
An Act Penalizing the Commission of
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and
Degrading Treatment or
Punishment,Prescribing Penalties Therefor
and for Other Purposes
(AntiTorture Act of 2009)
10 November 2009
74. Republic Act No. 9775 An Act Defining the Crime of Child
Pornography, Prescribing Penalties
Therefor and for Other Purposes
(AntiChild Pornography Act of 2009)
17 November 2009
75. Republic Act No. 9850
(childrelated law)
An Act Declaring Arnis as the National
Martial Art and Sport of the Philippines
11 December 2009
76. Republic Act No. 9851
(childrelated law)
An Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes
Against International Humanitarian Law,
Genocide and other Crimes Against
Humanity, Organizing Jurisdiction,
Designating Special Courts, and for Other
Related Purposes
(Philippine Act on Crimes Against
International Humanitarian Law, Genocide
and Other Crimes Against Humanity)
11 December 2009
77. Republic Act No. 9858 An Act Providing for the Legitimation of
Children Born to Parents Below Marrying
Age, Amending for the Purpose the Family
Code of the Philippines, as Amended
20 December 2009
78. Republic Act No. 9995
(childrelated law)
An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime
of Photo and Video Voyeurism,
PrescribingPenalties Therefor and for
Other Purposes
(AntiPhoto and Video Voyeurism Act of
2010)
15 February 2010
79. Republic Act No. 9999
(childrelated law)
An Act Providing a Mechanism for Free
Legal Assistance and for Other Purposes
(Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010)
23 February 2010
80. Republic Act No. 10028 An Act Expanding the Promotion of
Breastfeeding, Amending for the Purpose
Republic Act No. 7600, Otherwise Known
as An Act Providing Incentives to All
Government and Private Health
Institutions with Roomingin and
Breastfeeding Practices and for Other
Purposes
(Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of
2009)
16 May 2010
81. Republic Act No. 10121
(childrelated law)
An Act Strengthening the Philippine
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
System, Providing for the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework and Institutionalizing the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan, Appropriating Funds
Therefor and for Other Purposes
(Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010)
27 May 2010
82. Republic Act No. 10070
(childrelated law)
An Act Establishing an Institutional
Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation
ofPrograms and Services for Persons with
Disabilities in Every Province, City and
Municipality, Amending Republic Act No.
7277, Otherwise Known as Magna
Carta for Disabled Persons, as Amended,
and for Other Purposes
06 April 2010