EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

__ Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
1875

House Bill No.

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 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

ie
Yin

RUFUS B. RODR’


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

"introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodrigt
1875

House Bill No.

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 ear 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,
tules 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 (P5,000.00) 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,