Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFT! PH CONGRESS

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
House Bil No. __ 4555.

Introduced by Representative Carlo V. Lopez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The International Declaration of the Rights of the Child, RA 7610, and Article 332 of
the Civil Code, provide for deterrence and special protection against child abuse, exploitation
and discrimination; thus highlighting the state function to protect the children.

The biggest stumbling block, however, are the parents who renege 0:. their leval and
moral obligation to the chile who is allowed to beg and roam ir: the streets presumably to
meet the necessity of family support or augment the family sustenance; thereby creating ¢
permanent damage to the development of the child.

While Executive Order 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines d<
“everything indispensable for sustenance, g, clothing, medical atten:
and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family,” the state of poverty
shall not be countenanced as an excuse to exploit the child. Th2 social malady should be
everybody’s concern, but foremost, the family of the child should bear the primary
responsibility to raise not as a beggar or child prostitute but as a respectable and productive
citizen of the country, The parent who defaults on his or her responsibility to the child by
allowing the child to beg or engage in the sex trade or illegal undertakiny: should not be
condoned by society.

3 SUPpOrt us

Hence, this measure seeks to elevate the dignity of the chi!d us weil as the pazezis who
nurture the upbringing of the child, measured in terms of the capacity to give love wid care
without exploitation, To reiterate, we are not outlawing the poor, we are simply making
exploitation illegal for the parents who allowed them to happen t

April 25, 2011


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS,
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

4555

a
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Carlo V, Lopez

AN ACT

PENALIZING PARENTS, ADOPTERS, GUARDIANS OR PERSONS EXERCISING
SPECIAL OR SUBSTITUTE PARENTAL AUTHORITHY OVER CHILDREN
UNDER PARENTAL AUTHORITHY WHO ARE FOUND TO BE ENGAGED IN
BEGGING AND/OR PROSTITUTION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

ited by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines _in Congress,

Sec. 1 Title. This Act shall be known as the “Parental Sanction Law for Child Begging
and Prostitution”,

Sec. 2 Declaration of Principles. \t shall be the policy of the state to ensure that
children are protected from abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

‘The parental excuse of giving support in keeping with the financial capacity of the
family has been pushed (o the extreme by allowing children to beg and engage in prostitution
as a means to eam a living. This is prejudicial to the development of the child. As a legal
responsibility, there should be no compromise to the child’s entitlement to support from the
parents.

‘The prevalence of child beggars and child prostitutes shall not be countenanced even
upon direction or prodding by parents.

Sec. 3. Definition. “Children” refers to persons below eighteen (18) years of age
including those beyond this age category who are unable to fully take cate of themseives
because of physical or mental disability or condition.

Sec. 4. In addition to the measure of prevention provided under Article 332 of the
Civil Code providing for the deprivation of parental authority or suspension of the exercise of
the same if they should treat their children with excessive harshness or should give them
corrupting orders, counsels or examples, or should make them begged or abandoned them, the
penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon the parents, adopters, guardians or persons


exercising special or substitute parental authority over children under parental custody found
to be begging or engaging in prostitution, whether the intent is to give pecuniary benefit to the
child, harness him or her for family sustenance, or simply to let the child fend for him or
herself.

Sec. 5. Parents, adopters, guardians or persons exercising special or substitute parental
authority over the child who shall use, coerce, intimidate, or force their children to beg or
engage in prostitution shall suffer the penalty of prison correctional.

See. 6. The victims of the acts committed under the two proceeding sections shall be
entrusted to the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development with due regard to
eventual turnover to substitute parental authority enumerated under Article 216 of Executive
Order 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines.

Sec. 7. The penalties shall be one (1) degree higher than that imposed herein when the
victim is under twelve (12) years of age.

Sec. 8. Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development shall promulgated the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

See. 9. Repealing Clause. All other laws, order, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10, Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulations,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved.