THIRTEENTH CON 
REPUBLIC OF TH 
First Regular Session 
introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State as the champion of children’s rights recognizes the uniqueness and 
individuality of each and every child, especially those of the gifted. The Child and Youth 
Welfare Code, PD 603, as amended, mandates in Article 3 (3) thereof 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 their tv, print, radio and film exposure seem to exemplify, 
these children of tender age undergo rigorous physical, mental and emotional 
conditions. Common to all 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 is retarded and their emotional development are affected as they get exposed to 
human emotions and conditions that their young intellects are ill-equipped to handle and 
process. 
Celebrities as they are, their young lives are not devoid of exploitation. Often, 
they do not enjoy the fruits of their labor as the people who are supposed to look out for 
their welfare - their parents, their managers or their employers - are the very same 
people who profit from the income such minors earn. 
As part of the State’s effort 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 are given the responsibility of depositing 50% of the same in a 
bank. This is to ensure that no other interest is served but 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 urged. 
ClTO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular 
1 
REPUBLIC 0 
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Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ej rci to Estrada 
AN ACT 
MOVIE, TELEVISION, AND 
RADIO PRODUCERS, 
INCLUDING PROMOTION 
TISING AGENCIES, AND 
OTHER LIKE ENTITIES EMPLOYING U N ~ ~ A N ~ I P ~ ~ & ~  
MINORS TO 
DEPOSIT THEIR TALENT FEES OR INCOME IN A TRUST FUND, 
IMPOSING PENALTIES FO 
THE VIOLATION THEREOF AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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 and use of the said trust fund is unavoidable, the rule 
provided this section shall not apply. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 5. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall promulgate pertinent rules 
and regulations in implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 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 (5) 
years or a fine of not less that five thousand (P5,OOO.OO) pesos but not more than ten 
thousand (P10,OOO.OO) pesos, or both imprisonment and fine at the sound discretion of 
the Court. 
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,