With 220 affirmative votes, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 7679 or the “Foundling Welfare Act.”ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the bill, a foundling refers to a deserted or abandoned child-of unknown parentage and whose date or circumstances of birth on Philippine territory are unknown and undocumented. “A foundling is a natural-born Filipino citizen regardless of the status or circumstances of birth. Further, the bill also provides for the procedure for the issuance of certificate of live birth to foundlings by the Philippine Statistics Authority. ADVERTISEMENTThese legal barriers, Ong said placed foundlings at a disadvantage position and tremendously disenfranchise them, tantamount to denying their full rights bestowed upon all Filipino children.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 05, 2020 11:48 UTC