FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF TEE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio ‘‘Sonny’’ F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 11, Section 13 and Article XIV, SecCtion 3 (2) of the 1987 Constitution both provide for 
the protection and development of the youth. However, it has been evident that there has been 
nationwide rise of drop-outs and the slump of childrenk school participation and cohort 
survival. In fact, according to the government education agency, drop-out rates for both 
elementary and secondary levels, went up by above 7% and nearly 8% 
in school year 2005- 
2006, from 6.98% and 7.99%, respectively, in school year 2004-2005.‘ 
It could not be concealed that the frequent habit of cutting classes or the act of skipping classes 
due to peer pressure or the act of juvenile rebellion has often resulted to the formation of 
illiterate drop-outs who resort to deviant behaviors such as stealing, gang wars, drug addiction, 
teenage pregnancy, vandalism, and other crimes against persons, property and even the state. 
The development of our young people is in jeopardy because of various influences and activities 
that destroy their lives and future, causing them to become illiterate and irresponsible drop-outs 
who resort to deviant behaviors and rebellion against established institutions and authorities. 
Given this sitdon, a legislation that will e w ~ e  
the pramnotion ~f general welfare of the youth 
and their protection from acts, conditions, or influences that are prejudicial to their development 
is therefore deemed necessary. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
A I ~ T ~ N I O  
‘‘SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
httpJ/~.phiUppinestoday.netiindex.php?mod~~~cle&vie~994 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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RJ3PUBLIC OF THE PHILIFPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
C 
AN ACT 
ENSURING THE WELFARE AND PROTECTIQN OF hBNQRS AND FQR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be if- enacted by the Semte a d  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Youth We&re and Protection 
Act. " 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt 
and impose policies and regulations that would ensure the welfare and protection of minors, both 
in-school and out-of-school youth. Their development shall be given consideration in all of its 
government programs. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. -All minors below eighteen (18) years old, both in-school and out-of- 
school, as well as all establishments that cater to such, shall be covered by this Act. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Term. - For purposes of this Act, the followings terms shall 
mean: 
a) ChildJuvenilehfinor - any person below eighteen (18) years old; 
b) Department - Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
c) Community Service - a penalty imposed upon a minor for violation of this Act, as 
defined and within the parameter of the Diversion Program as provided for in 
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Republic Act 9344 otherwise known as “An Act Establishing a Comprehensive 
Juvenile Justice and Welfare System”. 
d) Fraternity - a group of people associated or formally organized for a common 
purpose, interest, or pleasure; 
e) Gambling- 
1) playing games of chance or betting in the hope of winning money; 
2) wagering money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain 
outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material 
goods. 
f) Gang - a group of persons acting in accord who are believed to engage in improper 
acts or to be influenced by self-seeking, corrupt, or unworthy motives; 
g) Hazing - an initiation rite being conducted as a prerequisite for admission as member 
in a fraternity, sorority, or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte, or applicant 
in an embarrassing or humiliating situation such as forcing hidher to do menial, silly 
foolish, and other similar tasks or activities, or otherwise subjecting himher to 
physical suffering or injury; 
h) Liquor - an alcoholic drink, especially of the type produced by distillation; 
i) Recruiter - a person who enlists or causes other persons to join or become a member 
of a fraternity, sorority, or gang; 
j) Republic Act No. 8049 - An Act regulating hazing and other forms of initiation rites 
in fraternities, sororities, and other organizations. 
SEC. 5. Loitering During School Hours. - Students or schoolchildren are banned from 
loitering in public places outside their school grounds/campuses during school hours unless they 
are accompanied by their parentsiguardians or are attending an official school functioniduty. To 
curtail this practice, students and/or school children who will be caught loitering in public places 
outside their school grounds/campuses during school/class hours, without being accompanied by 
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their parentdguardians or attending an official school functiodduty, shall be sanctioned 
accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Restricted Areas for Minors. - The following areas shall be restricted for 
minors: 
a) Videoke BarsBeer Houses - It shall be unlawful for establishments such as, but not 
limited to videoke bars, beer houses, night clubs, and/or any establishment that offer 
similar services, to allow the entIy of minors within their premises at any time and 
any day, whether or not they are in the company of their parents, guardians, elders, 
or relatives who are not otherwise covered by these prohibition; 
b) 
HoteIsMotelsiLodging Houses - It shall be unlawfld for all hotels, motels, lodging 
houses, andor similar establishments to allow the entry of minors within their 
premises, unless otherwise such minors are with the company of their parents, 
guardians, or adult relatives. 
SECTION 7. Fraternities and Gangs. - 
a) All newly formed youth organizations shall apply for accreditation from the office of 
the mayor of the city or municipality where it seeks to be organized, upon the 
recommendation of the youth and sports council of said city or municipality, and, 
accordingly, be issued a Certificate of Accreditation. The youth and sports council of 
each city or municipality is hereby tasked to guide, monitor, and supervise these 
organizations. 
b) No person shall force, coerce, bully, or deceive any juvenile into joining any 
organization, fraternity, sorority, gang, or association. Recruiters from any 
organization or fraternityisorority must secure permission from the parentdguardians 
of the childjuvenile being recruited. 
c) Hazing or initiation rites are discouraged, if not regulated, conforming with Republic 
Act 8049. 
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d) If the juvenile/minor subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any 
physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, 
sorority, or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm 
shall be liable as principals and will suffer the sanctions as provided under Republic 
Act 8049. 
SECTION 8. Other Acts Prejudicial to the Child’s Development. - 
a) Selling of Specific Products - It shall be unlawful for any person or establishments 
such as, but not limited to groceries, department stores, eateries, restaurants, bakeries, 
market stalls, bazaars, general merchandise, hardware and construction supplies to 
sell liquor and/or any intoxicating drink, tobacco products, illegal drugs, “rugby” and 
other habit-inducing solvents, or pornographic materials to minors, such as videos, 
magazines or any publication, books or tapes, and other materials that are detrimental 
to the development of the child. 
b) Smoking Ban for Minors - It shall be unlawful for any minor within the meaning of 
this Act to smoke cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products in any form 
whatsoever, whether or not they are in the company of their parents, guardians, 
elders, or relatives who are not otherwise covered by this prohibition. 
c) Ban on Rugby and other Habit-Inducing Solvents - It shall be unlawful for any minor 
within the meaning of this Act to sniff “Rugby” or any habit-inducing solvent. 
d) Ban on Liquor and/or any Intoxicating Drink - It shall be unlawful for all minors 
within the meaning of this Act to drink liquor andior any intoxicating drink, whether 
or not they are in the company of their parents, guardians, elders, or relatives who are 
not othenvise covered by this prohibition. 
e) Gambling Ban for Minors - Minors are banned from engaging in any form of 
gambling. Minors who are caught from engaging in any form of gambling, such as, 
but not limited to jueteng, lotto, all card games, cara y cruz, mahjong, bingo, and 
ending shall be properly sanctioned 
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SEC. 9. Penalties for SpecPC Violations. - 
a) The parentslguardians of the offender shall be sanctioned to attend a Parents’ 
Orientation Seminar for the First Offense. and a fine in the amount of Five Thousand 
Pesos (P 5,000.00) or four (4) hours of community service to the government of the 
city or municipality where said parents or guardians are residents, for subsequent 
offenses. 
b) The Principal, Guidance Counselor, or Class Adviser of students who were 
apprehended while roaming in all parks, amusement centers, and other similar places 
during their prescribed school hours shall be notified by the apprehending officers 
concerning the matter, and the above school authorities shall bring the offenders to 
school for counseling and/or appropriate disciplinary action. 
c) Commercial establishments such as, but not limited to malls, video arcades, 
restaurants, fast food chains, carinderias, videoke bars, billiard pool halls, and other 
forms of recreation, amusement centers, movie houses, parlors or barber shops, and 
groceries or supermarkets that allow school children to loiter in their premises during 
school days from 7:OO o’clock in the morning to 5:OO o’clock in the afternoon shall 
be subjected to a fine of Five Thousand Pesos Cp 5,000.00) for every student caught. 
d) Violators whose business involve recreationallsportsiamusement related activities 
shall suffer the same fine, plus the confiscation of all their gadgets, equipment, 
machines, and other paraphernalia such as computers, videos, billiard pools, bowling 
balls, machines, karaokelvideoke, television sets, and the like. 
e) The penalty for violation of the provisions of Sections 6 and 8 (a) shall be as follows: 
1) First Offense - Fine of Thirty Thousand Pesos (P 30,000.00) plus three (3) 
months suspension of Business Permit; 
2) Second Offense - Fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) and cancellation 
ofBusiness Permit Without prejubce to the filing of appropriate legal action. 
f) Any minor who is found violating the provisions of Sections 8 (b), (c), (d) and (e) of 
this Act shall be subjected to community service to the government of the city or 
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municipality where the offense was committed and counseling from the Department 
as prescribed in Section 10 of this Act. In addition, any minor who is found violating 
Section 8 (d) shall be placed under preventive custody until sober in holding centers 
in the city or municipality where apprehended while drinking or otherwise found in 
an intoxicated state, so as not to inflict harm on himselfierself and others 
g) Any person caught in the act of forcing or deceiving any minor/juvenile, or those who 
have forced and deceived minors into joining any organization, fraternity/sorority, or 
gang within the campus or outside the school grounds shall be sanctioned with two 
(2) hours of counseling at the Department and four (4) hours of community service to 
the government of the city or municipality where the school is established and located 
or where the offense was committed if the offender i s  a minor, or a fine of Five 
Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00) and eight (8) hours of community service if the offender 
is an adult, without prejudice to filing of appropriate legal action. 
SEC. 10. Generalpenal Clause. - 
Violations of the provisions of this Act shall have the following penalties: 
a) First Offense - Fine in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00) or four (4) 
hours of community service and two (2) hours of counseling; 
b) Repeated Offense - Fine in the amount of Eight Thousand Pesos (P 8,000.00) or eight 
(8) hours of community service and four (4) hours of counseling. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause, -If any provision of this Act shall at any time be found to 
be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect 
fifteen (1 5) days following 
its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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