How Much Is Child Support for Two Children in the Philippines?

Child support in the Philippines does not follow a fixed table or percentage the way some countries do. Instead, courts look at two anchors:

the needs of the children, and
the means of the parents.

This article explains how that standard works in practice when there are two children, what expenses count as “support,” who is obliged, how to compute a fair figure, and how to obtain, adjust, and enforce a support order.

1) Legal foundation (plain-English overview)

Duty to support. Under the Family Code, parents have a continuing obligation to support their children—legitimate or illegitimate—based on necessity and ability to pay. The right to support is reciprocal within the family (parents ↔ children, and, when necessary, up and down the family line).
Scope of “support.” Support covers what a child reasonably needs for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical and dental care, education, and transportation, including expenses for appropriate training or schooling.
Amount is flexible. The amount must be proportionate to (a) the children’s needs and (b) each parent’s resources. Courts may increase or reduce support if circumstances materially change (e.g., job loss, illness, increased school costs).
When it becomes demandable. Support is due from the time of need, but is generally paid only from the date of judicial or extra-judicial demand (e.g., a formal demand letter or the filing of a case).
Interim (“pendente lite”) support. While a case is pending (e.g., annulment, legal separation, or a stand-alone petition for support), the court can issue an interim order to avoid gaps in the children’s maintenance.

2) Who must provide support—and in what order

Parents are primarily liable. Each parent contributes in proportion to actual means (not necessarily 50/50).
If a parent truly cannot provide support, the duty can shift subsidarily to other relatives (e.g., grandparents), observing legal order and proportionality, until the parents become able again.
Separation (de facto, annulment, or nullity) does not extinguish the duty to support.

Illegitimate children. Once paternity is established (e.g., voluntary acknowledgment on the birth certificate, public instrument, DNA, or evidence of “open and continuous possession of status”), the duty to support is the same in principle as for legitimate children.

3) What counts as “support” for two children

Courts typically recognize both direct child expenses and a fair share of household overhead that benefits the children. Common recognized items:

Direct child expenses: tuition and other school fees, uniforms, books and supplies, gadgets required by school, tutoring (if reasonable), transportation to/from school, daily meals/baon, extracurriculars aligned with the family’s circumstances, medical/dental (including insurance premiums), therapy where medically indicated.
Shared household overhead: rent or amortization, utilities, internet (for schooling), a reasonable share of groceries, the pro-rated share of a house helper if the service directly benefits the children, and routine household maintenance.

For two children, courts generally sum the combined needs rather than doubling a single-child figure. (There are economies of scale—e.g., the same dwelling and internet serve both children—but some costs, like tuition, scale per child.)

4) How courts estimate the amount (and how you can too)

Because there’s no statutory schedule, judges want evidence and a workable budget. A practical, court-tested way to compute:

Step A — Build a combined budget for both children

List direct per-child costs (tuition, books, school transport, medical, extracurriculars).
Add a reasonable pro-rated share of household overhead that benefits the children (rent, utilities, internet, groceries).

Tip: Use receipts, school statements, prescriptions, HMO policies, and prior bills. If costs vary, average the last 6–12 months.

Step B — Determine each parent’s means

Gather pay slips, BIR Form 2316/ITR, bank statements showing regular deposits, business permits/FS for self-employed, proof of allowances (e.g., COLA, 13th-month, guaranteed bonuses), and proof of ongoing obligations (e.g., loan amortizations that are actually paid and reasonable).

Step C — Proportionate sharing

Calculate each parent’s share by income ratio (net, realistically available income), then consider any in-kind support already shouldered (e.g., the custodial parent covering groceries, daily care).

Illustrative example (for two children)

Combined reasonable monthly needs of the two children: ₱40,000
- Direct school/medical/transport/baon: ₱28,000
- Children’s pro-rated household share: ₱12,000
Net monthly income (realistically available):
- Father: ₱80,000
- Mother: ₱30,000
Income ratio: Father 80k ÷ (80k+30k) ≈ 72.7%; Mother ≈ 27.3%
Indicative shares:
- Father: 72.7% × ₱40,000 ≈ ₱29,100
- Mother: 27.3% × ₱40,000 ≈ ₱10,900 (often delivered in-kind by the custodial parent)

This is not a rule, just a transparent way to justify numbers the court can test against evidence.

Notes on components often debated

Bonuses/13th-month/commissions: Courts may consider predictable, regular additional pay in assessing “means,” especially if it recurs annually or monthly. Truly speculative or windfall income is less likely to be baked into a monthly base but can support periodic adjustments (e.g., a December top-up).
New families/new children: A later-born child does not erase the earlier children’s needs, but courts can consider the obligor’s overall capacity and equitable distribution across dependents.
Currency and inflation: Orders can include periodic escalation (e.g., a modest annual increase) or allow adjustment upon proof of inflation-driven increases in actual expenses. There is no automatic CPI clause by law, so build the mechanism into the order or be ready to move for modification.

5) How to ask for support (procedural paths)

A) Extra-judicial demand (fastest first step)

Send a formal demand letter itemizing the children’s needs and proposed amount, attaching proof of expenses and income if available, and requesting payment to a specific channel (e.g., bank account, e-wallet). This starts the accrual of support from demand and often prompts voluntary settlement.

B) Petition for support (Family Court)

File a petition for support (or include support as relief in a case for nullity/annulment/legal separation). Venue is generally a personal action—you may file where you or the respondent resides. Ask for:

Support pendente lite (interim) with a proposed monthly figure and supporting receipts.
Production of income documents (pay slips, payroll certifications, ITRs). The court can compel disclosure.
Salary deduction/garnishment or deposit to a designated account, if justified.

C) Protection orders in VAWC cases (when applicable)

Where the parent-obligor’s non-support is part of economic abuse within an intimate partner context, temporary/protection orders may compel support swiftly, with criminal and civil teeth for non-compliance.

6) Evidence that persuades judges

Children’s expenses: school assessments, ORs for tuition and supplies, transport logs, grocery receipts, HMO/insurance policies, medical prescriptions/diagnoses, therapy evaluations, device purchase receipts if school-required.
Parent’s means: certified payroll records, BIR filings, employer certifications (including allowances/benefits), bank statements showing recurring deposits, business registrations and financials for self-employed/OFW remittances.
Lifestyle proxies (used cautiously): visible assets, social media admissions, travel records—helpful if income documents are withheld.

7) Paying, documenting, and adjusting

How to pay: Bank transfer to the custodial parent/guardian, deposit through the court, or salary deduction (if ordered).
Keep a paper trail: Keep proof of every payment (bank confirmations, receipts). Specify the month covered to avoid disputes about arrears.
Modification: Either parent may seek increase/decrease if circumstances materially change (job loss/promotion, new medical needs, tuition hikes). There’s no automatic change without agreement or order.

8) Non-payment: remedies and consequences

Writ of execution/garnishment. Courts can garnish salaries, bank accounts, receivables, or seize non-exempt property to satisfy arrears.
Contempt. Willful disobedience of a support order may lead to indirect contempt (fines/jail until compliance).
Criminal exposure in VAWC contexts. Non-support that amounts to economic abuse against a woman partner or her child may trigger criminal liability under special law.
Legal interest on arrears. Courts may impose legal interest on unpaid, liquidated support from the date it became due, especially after demand or judgment.

9) Special situations with two children

Split custody. If each parent houses one child, courts still compute total needs and net out what each parent already provides in kind; the parent with higher means may still owe a balancing payment.
One child with special needs. Support for the sibling with therapy or medical requirements can legitimately exceed the other’s, as long as overall support remains proportionate to parental means.
OFW or abroad obligor. The court can order remittances to a PH account and garnish locally reachable assets/income (e.g., local bank accounts, Philippine employer/agency). International enforcement depends on where the obligor and assets are located; practically, execution focuses on assets and contacts within PH jurisdiction.
Scholarships and discounts. These reduce direct educational costs but do not eliminate support for other necessities.

10) Practical computation checklist (for two children)

List direct per-child costs (per month):
- Tuition/fees (annual ÷ 10 or 12 months)
- Books/supplies/uniforms (annualized monthly)
- Transport/baon
- Medical/dental (average monthly; include HMO premium ÷ 12)
- Extracurriculars (only if reasonable for the family)
Add household overhead share that benefits the children:
- Rent/amortization (reasonable location for school/work)
- Utilities + internet
- Pro-rated groceries and household help
Compute total children’s needs (A + B).
Establish each parent’s means (net, realistically available).
Proportionately allocate the total to each parent.
Account for in-kind contributions already borne by the custodial parent (net the cash ask).
Add a practical payment schedule (e.g., every 30th of the month) and a mechanism for receipts.
Include an adjustment clause (e.g., review every 12 months or upon material change).

11) Frequently asked questions

Is there a standard percentage per child? No. Percentages (like “20% per child”) are not mandated by Philippine law. Courts prefer a budget-and-means approach.

Until when is support owed? Generally until 18, but it can continue if the child cannot support themself due to illness/disability, or for education/training appropriate to the child and family circumstances (often through college if reasonably within the family’s means).

Can support be waived? The right to support is not ordinarily waivable, and settlement agreements requiring parents to “waive” the children’s support are closely scrutinized and often disallowed insofar as they impair the children’s rights.

Does re-marriage end support? No. The duty to existing children remains, although the obligor’s overall obligations may be considered when calibrating amount.

What if paternity is disputed? The court can receive DNA or other evidence (acknowledgment documents, birth certificate entries, proof of filiation). Once established, support may be awarded retroactive to demand.

12) A model clause (for settlement agreements)

“Parent A shall pay Parent B the amount of ₱____ per month as child support for [Child 1] and [Child 2], covering sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical and dental care, education, and transportation. Payment shall be made on or before the ___ day of each month via [bank/e-wallet details]. The parties agree to review the amount every 12 months or upon a material change in circumstances, and to exchange proof of income and expenses annually. Amounts unpaid when due shall earn legal interest from due date until fully paid. This agreement is without prejudice to court approval and modification as justice and equity require.”

13) Key takeaways

There is no fixed peso figure for “two children.” The law requires a needs-and-means analysis, backed by evidence.
Prepare a combined children’s budget and compute proportional shares based on each parent’s real capacity.
If you cannot agree, the Family Court can set interim and final support, compel income disclosure, and enforce payment through garnishment or contempt.

This article provides general legal information in the Philippine context. For a child-specific computation or pleading strategy, assemble your receipts and income proofs and apply the budget-and-means method outlined above.