These are just a few of the challenges many abandoned Filipino babies face. Instead of being cared for and loved, these babies are deprived of their rights and many other opportunities the moment they come into the world just because they were abandoned.
Congressman Ronnie Ong, first nominee of AP Partylist, explained that the bill intends to address the issue of foundlings’ citizenship status, which he described are still fragile and in danger of being denied a slew of rights and privileges. Cong. Ronnie explained that the inspiration for the said bill is a good friend and colleague, Senator Grace Poe. He described the bill’s passing as destiny as it happened on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Candelaria Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo.
Instead of a Foundling Certificate, HB 7679 grants all foundlings a Certificate of Live Birth. The process for the issuing of a birth certificate to foundlings by the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Office of the Civil Registrar is therefore outlined.