Manila: House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday urged lawmakers to unite in expediting the passage of House Bill (HB) 10159, or the Magna Carta for Children. This call comes as the Philippines celebrates National Children's Day with the theme 'Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines'. As the bill's principal author, Romualdez emphasized its potential impact on addressing systemic violence and neglect, aiming to foster a nurturing environment for the nation's youth. According to Philippines News Agency, the bill was approved by the House Committee on the Welfare of Children on May 13 and is now awaiting its second reading. In the Senate, a counterpart bill, Senate Bill 2612, has been referred to the Joint Committees on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, and Finance, where it has been pending deliberation since March 19. The Magna Carta for Children seeks to institutionalize a comprehensive and robust framework for protecting, developing, and empowering Filipino children. Its provisions align national laws with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and enshrine principles such as non-discrimination, survival, development, and child participation. Key features of the bill include the elimination of child labor, designating children as 'zones of peace' in conflict areas, and mandating child-friendly spaces. It also aims to strengthen institutions that serve children and ensure access to education, healthcare, and legal aid, while promoting positive parenting. At the same time, Romualdez called for the swift passage of the Civil Registration Bill, which addresses the challenges faced by over 3.7 million unregistered Filipinos, including more than 1 million children, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This bill complements the Magna Carta for Children by ensuring all children have legal recognition and access to essential services. Approved by the House Committee on Population and Family Relations and now pending in the Committee on Appropriations, it proposes accessible and inclusive birth registration services to remove barriers affecting marginalized communities and improve the integrity of civil records. Romualdez urged lawmakers to act swiftly on these transformative measures, emphasizing that the Magna Carta for Children and the Civil Registration Bill reflect the nation's commitment to fulfilling its constitutional and moral duties to protect its youngest citizens. "On this day, let me express the 19th Congress' firm commitment: We will do everything in our power to break the prevalence of violence, end the neglect, and create a safe and equitable Philippines for our children. Their future is our legacy," he stated.