SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SEP 11 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 6 41 
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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 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 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 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 as the people who are supposed 
to look out for their welfare. 
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 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. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 16 41 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
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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 percent (50%) of the minor's 
income or talent fee at a bank duly licensed by the 8angko Senfral 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 
(5) years or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,OOO.OO) but not more 
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.OO), 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,