Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL. no.1472

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 16(A) AND 16(B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION ACT" AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9231

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Every Filipino child has the right to be in school, not at work. To run, not to toil. To

dream, not to labor.

Yet the numbers tell a harsher story. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority,
over 2 million children are still engaged in child labor, and nearly half of them are in
hazardous work environments. They are found in farms, factories, construction sites, and

even on the streets, doing work that puts their health, education, and future at risk.

Republic Act No. 7610, as amended by Republic Act No. 9231, was a step forward in
protecting children. It prohibits the employment of children below 15 years old, with a few
exceptions. It punishes those who exploit children for labor. But two decades later, the law's

penalties have now become outdated.

This bill seeks to change that. It proposes increasing penalties and imposing per-child

fines for every unlawful employment incident.


Children are not commodities. They are the nation’s future. If we do not protect them

now, we steal from what tomorrow could become.

This proposed measure, therefore, seeks to provide stiffer penalties for violations of
R.A. No. 9231 by imposing both imprisonment and a fine for every instance that a child is
engaged in employment other than in the instances permitted by law. Moreover, this bill
proposes to raise the fines imposed on employers who continue to engage in illegal child

labor practices.

ING” D. REMULLA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HoUusE BILL No. 1472

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 16(A) AND 16(B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION ACT" AS.
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9231

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

SECTION 1. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7610 otherwise known as the “Special
Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”, as amended, is
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec.16. Penal Provisions —

“(a) Any employer who violates Sections 12, 12-A, and Section 14 of

this Act, as amended, shall be penalized by imprisonment of six (6)
months and one (1) day to six (6) years [er] AND a fine of [Fifty

thousand —pesos—(P300,000.00)] NOT LESS THAN THREE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00) [orboth-at-the
discretion of the court].

“(b) Any person who violates the provision of Section 12-D of this act

or the employer of the subcontractor who employs, or the one who

facilitates the employment of a child in hazardous work, shall suffer



ot] TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00)
AND imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one (1) day

to twenty (20) years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the
discretion of the court.

“Xxx.”

SEC. 2. Implementing Agency. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, order, rules and regulations, or portions
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,