Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano- Soliman said  that the passage of the Foster Care Bill in Congress will institutionalize and improve the implementation of foster care program in the country. 

Foster care provides temporary care for children who cannot live with their own parents because of neglect, abuse or a family crisis.  According to Secretary Soliman, foster care is a very nurturing alternative parental care for abandoned, neglected, orphaned children and other children with special needs.

Thus, the DSWD supports the Senate version of the Foster Care Bill (SB Nos. 680 and 1080) entitled, “An Act to Strengthen and Propagate Foster Care for Abandoned and Neglected Children and Other Children with Special Needs, Providing Appropriations Therefor and for Other Purposes.”   The Lower House version of Foster Care Bill (HB No. 1079) was introduced by Quezon City First District Representative, Bernadette C. Herrera-Dy.

The proposed legislative measure, according to Secretary Soliman, is in support to the DSWD policy on de-institutionalization of children, wherein immediate transfer of children from institutions to alternative family or independent living is encouraged. 

Likewise, the measure provides assistance and tax incentives to foster parents, child caring agencies, and donor institutions.

Under this bill, foster parents will be provided through any, but not limited to the following support care services: counselling, training on child care and development, respite care, skills training and livelihood assistance. In addition, foster parents may be entitled to personal tax exemption and additional exemption for dependents.  

Further, the bill states that an NGO accredited by the DSWD shall be exempted from paying income tax on the income derived by it as an organization under the provision of Section 30 of the Tax Code of the Philippines.   Qualified NGOs may likewise apply as a donee institution that will entitle them to receive donations.

Based on records, the DSWD has served some 749 abandoned and neglected children in the second semester of CY 2010 alone from the 11 Reception and Study Centers for Children nationwide. ### 29 December 2010 (Social Marketing Service)