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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by: Hon, Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

HOUSE BILL NO. 894

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ROAMING, LOITERING OR SLEEPING OF
UNCHAPERONED CHILDREN BELOW EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AT LATE
HOURS OF THE EVENING OUTSIDE THEIR DOMICILE AND PROVIDING
PENALTIES THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution mandates that: "The maintenance of peace and order, the

protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential
for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. " (Article II, Sec.

It also provides in Article I, Section 13 that, “The State recognizes the vita! role of the
youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social well-being, It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and
encourage their involvement in public and civil affairs.”

The potential of the youth to make lasting contributions to nation building is
unparalleled. Yet, some serious flaws have appeared in our social and cultural fabric,
characterized by destructive behaviors among some of our youth that are damaging their lives
and that of our country as well as the ability of this generation to achieve its full potential.

The alarming increase in the incidence of crimes committed by and against minors
necessitates the implementation of a measure that will reduce opportunities for juvenile crime
to thrive in the country and ensure the safety and well being of our young people.

Hence, this measure seeks to keep minors off the street at odd hours of the night and
compel them’ to stay at home in order to curb their exposure to criminality and negative
influences of street life such as those of illegal drugs and other vices that may contribute to their
delinquency.

The bill prohibits unchaperoned minors from loitering around the localities of the
country between 10:00 p.m, and 5:00 a.m. in order to provide all children with a healthy, safe
and nurturing environment that presents opportunities and conditions for developing their full
potential.

‘Although there is no dearth of local ordinances on the subject all over the country, there
is a need to enact a national legislation on curfew for minors consistent with the policy
pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte in curbing criminality in the country.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

Gn Yn
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4” District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 894

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ROAMING, LOITERING OR SLEEPING OF
UNCHAPERONED CHILDREN BELOW EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AT LATE
HOURS OF THE EVENING OUTSIDE THEIR DOMICILE AND PROVIDING
PENALTIES THEREFOR,

Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title.
Act.”

This Act shall be known as the “Disciplinary Hours for Minors

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The following State policies shall be observed at all times:

(a) The State recognizes the vital role of children and youth in nation building and shall
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.

(b) The State recognizes the right of children to be protected from all forms of neglect,
abuse, cruelty and exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

(0) It shall be the policy of the State to protect and rehabilitate children gravely threatened
or endangered by circumstances which affect or will affect their survival and normal
development and over which they have no control.

SEC. 3. Purposes and Objectives. - The purposes and objectives of this Act are:

(a) To promote the well-being of children and their families by ensuring their collective
safety and self-esteem.

(b) To protect children from becoming vulnerable to the negative influences of the street
life.

(c) To reduce the opportunities for juvenile crime.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the term:

(a) Curfew hours means the hours from 10:00 in the evening until five o'clock in the
morning;

(b) Emergency means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state
that calls for immediate action such as, but not limited to, a fire, natural disaster, automobile
accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury ot loss of
lifes

(©) Guardian means a person who, under court order, is the guardian of the person of a
minor or a person in charge of the custody or who is taking care of a minor, whether relative or
not;

(d) Minor means any person below eighteen (18) years of age;

(©) Parent means a person who is a natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of a
minor;

(f) Public place means all places accessible to the general public or places for collective use.

SEC. 5. Prohibition. — It shall be unlawful for any unchaperoned minor to loiter, roam
around or meander, or sleep in any public place during curfew hours from ten o'clock in the


evening until five o'clock in the morning without lawful purpose or justifiable reason,

SEC. 6. Exceptions. ~ The prohibitions provided under the preceding section shall not
apply in the following circumstances:

(a) When the minor is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian;

(b) When the minor is out in the street during the prohibited period for such purposes like
doing errand at the instance of his or her parent/s or guardian/s. Provided, that such minor is
authorized to do so under a written and signed certification by any of the above-mentioned
persons who gave him or her permission to go out during curfew hours for lawful or legitimate
purposes. Provided, further, that such minor shall not loiter after the performance of his or her
errand/s;

(c) When the minor is traveling or is in a motor vehicle, particularly a school service;

(d) When the minor is engaged in an authorized employment activity, or going to or
returning home from the same, without any detour or stop;

(c) When the minor is involved in an emergency;

(O When the minor is out of his or her residence attending an official school, religious,
recreational, educational, social, community or other organized activity sponsored by the
government, school or other private civie organization that supervises the activity or when the
minor is going to or returning home from such activity without any detour or stop; and

(g) When the minor can present any document certifying that he or she is a student and
was dismissed from his or her class late in the evening or that he or she is a working student.

SEC. 7. Penalties. - Any minor who is apprehended by virtue of this Act shall be brought
to the Social Welfare and Development Office of the City or Municipality concerned for
verification and record purposes. Thereafter, the minor shall be required to undergo a
counseling program together with his or her parents or legal guardians.

‘A minor found violating this Act for the second time and every time thereafter will be
required to render a community service.

Any parent or guardian of a minor in violation of this Act for the third time or succeeding
offenses shall pay a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One
thousand pesos (P1,000.00), or be required to render community service for not less than five
(5) days but not more than ten (10) days, or both such fine and community service at the
discretion of the court: Provided, that the maximum length of community service shall be
imposed on parents or legal guardians who have violated the provisions of this Act three (3)
times; Provided, further, That in addition to community service, the penalty of imprisonment of
fifteen (15) days but not more than thirty (30) days or both at the discretion of the court, shall
be imposed on the parents or legal guardians who have violated the provisions of this Act more
than three (3) times,

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local
Government, in consultation with the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, shall promulgate the
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or part
thereof, which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 10. Fffectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,