The National Coalition for the Family & the Constitution has launched an online petition urging President Bongbong Marcos to include the proposed Family Mainstreaming Law among his legislative priorities in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.
Among those behind the initiative are Jerika Ejercito, daughter of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The coalition is seeking at least 100,000 signatures in support of the proposed measure, which aims to establish a comprehensive, evidence-based framework that places families at the center of government policies, programs, and evaluation systems. The proposal would also create a National Commission for the Filipino Family to oversee and coordinate family-centered programs nationwide.
The initiative also highlights what its proponents describe as the government’s limited institutional support for Filipino families. They pointed to the National Committee on the Filipino Family, a committee under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) mandated to promote the well-being of Filipino families, which has existed for about 20 years but operates on an annual budget of just ₱1 million. According to Ejercito, learning about the committee and its funding underscored how little priority has been given to family-centered policies despite the 1987 Constitution recognizing the family as the foundation of the nation.
According to the coalition, the proposed law would strengthen parents’ role as primary educators, support marriage and family formation, improve protections for children against abuse and exploitation, teach Filipino family values in schools, strengthen law enforcement efforts against crimes involving children, protect unborn children, and encourage partnerships with churches and community organizations.
The coalition said the proposed legislation responds to what it described as the growing challenges facing Filipino families. It argued that while the 1987 Constitution recognizes the family as the foundation of the nation, existing laws remain insufficient to fully protect, prioritize, and promote Filipino families. Through the petition, the group is calling on President Marcos to make the Family Mainstreaming Law part of his administration’s legislative agenda during this year’s SONA.
