FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1674

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The State as the champion of children’s rights recognizes the
uniqueness and individuality of each and every child, especially those who are
considered gifted ones. Article 3 of Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise
known as “The Child and Youth Welfare Code”, as amended, states that: “The
gifted child shall be given opportunity and encouragement to develop his
special talents.”

Child actors and actresses are one distinct group of gifted children.
Beneath the seeming carefree existence that their television, print, radio and
film exposure seem to exemplify, these children undergo rigorous physical,
mental and emotional pressures. Common to alll child actors and actresses
are shootings or tapings that frequently last up to the wee hours of the
morning. Such irregular working hours force some child stars to skip school
Gifted as they are in the performing arts, their physical growth maybe retarded
and their emotional development may be affected as well

Celebrities as they are, their young lives are not devoid of exploitation
Often, they do not enjoy the fruits of their labor but the people who are
supposed to look out for their welfare.

As part of the State's efforts to protect children against all forms of
exploitation and abuse, there is a need to enact a law that would ensure that
the child prodigy has a means of safekeeping his earnings until such time that
he can manage his own financial affairs. This proposed legislation seeks to
put up a trust fund where one-half of the child actor's talent fee, income, or
earnings are kept for safekeeping, while earning legal interest. The producers,
promoters and other entities alike employing the services of an
unemancipated child is given the responsibility of depositing 50% of the same
in a bank. This is to ensure that no other interest is served but that of the child
himself.


As pressing is the need to protect the rights of the growing number of
child stars being magnetized by the fame and fortune that the performing arts
pose, the immediate passage of this bill is therefore urged.

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RUFUS, lhl

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MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS: )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. _ 1674

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
REQUIRING MOVIE, TELEVISION, AND RADIO PRODUCERS,
INCLUDING PROMOTION AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES, AND OTHER
LIKE ENTITIES, EMPLOYING UNEMANCIPATED MINORS TO DEPOSIT
THEIR TALENT FEES OR INCOME IN A TRUST FUND, IMPOSING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. - All movie, television, radio producers, including
promotions and advertising agencies, talent promoters, and other like entities,
who in the course of business hires, procures, or engages the services of an
unemancipated minor below eighteen (18) years of age shall be required to
deposit in the name of the said minor at least fifty (50%) percent of the minor's
income or talent fee at a bank duly licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas in the form of a trust fund.

SEC. 2. - The trust fund established by the immediately preceding
section shall be held in safekeeping by that bank, to earn legal interest, until
the minor shall have reached the age of majority as defined by the law, in
which case the latter shall be free to handle the deposit as he deems
equitable under the premises.

SEC. 3. The bank wherein the trust fund is deposited shall see to it that
the deposit shall be free from the encroachment, use, misuse, or abuse by
other parties. In extreme cases, however, as in the case where the life or
health of the said minor beneficiary is in grave danger and the use of said
trust fund is unavoidable, the rule provided in this section shall not apply.

SEC. 4. In case of incapacity or death of the minor-beneficiary, the
Parent, or in their absence, the guardian, or in his absence, the legal heirs of
the minor beneficiary shall take control of the trust fund established by
authority of this Act, subject to existing banking laws, rules and regulations
pertinent thereto, including the laws of inheritance.


SEC. 5. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall promulgate pertinent
rules and regulations in the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Any person who violates the provisions of this Act shall be
punished with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than
five (6) years or a fine of not less than five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but
not more than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00), or both imprisonment and
fine at the sound discretion of the Court.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.