NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
DATE:.q
A   T'ME:-
FT
Kl'm
Introduced b
resentative Rufus a.
House Bill No. 53 5 4
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°/o  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.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus a. Rodriguez
House Bill No. 5 3 5 4
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,  llvIPOSING  PENALTIES  FOR VIOLATION  THEREOF  AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it ep?ct.ed by the Senate and  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SEC770rv  7.  - 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°/o) percent of
the minor's income or talent fee at a bank duly licensed by the Bangko Senfra/ ng P/./t.p/'nas 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 earn 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,
rules and regulations pertinent thereto, including the laws of inheritance.
SEC. 5. The Bangko Senfra/ ng P/./i.pt.Has 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 Offr'ci.a/ Gazette
or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,