REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __ 881

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 13 and Article XIV, Section 3 (2) of the 1987 Constitution both provide for
the protection and development of the youth. However, it has been evident that there has been
nationwide rise of drop-outs and the slump of children's school participation and cohort
survival. Frequent habit of cutting classes or the act of skipping classes due to peer pressure,
or an act of juvenile rebellion has often resulted to the formation of illiterate drop-outs who
may resort to deviant behaviors such as stealing, gang wars, drug addiction, teenage
pregnancy, vandalism, and other crimes against persons, property and even the state.

The development of our young people is in jeopardy because of various influences and
activities that destroy their lives and future, causing them to become illiterate and
irresponsible drop-outs who resort to deviant behaviors and rebellion against established
institutions and authorities. Given this situation, a legislation that will ensure the promotion
of general welfare of the youth and their protection from acts, conditions, or influences that
are prejudicial to their development is therefore deemed necessary.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MANUEI HAN IL
Representative.
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 881

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
ENSURING THE WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF MINORS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Youth Welfare and
Protection Act”.

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt
and impose policies and regulations that would ensure the welfare and protection of minors,
both in-school and out-of-school youth. Their development shall be given consideration in all

of the government programs.

SEC. 3. Coverage. — All minors below eighteen (18) years old, both in-school and
out-of school, as well as all establishments that cater to such, shall be covered by this Act.

SEC. 4, Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the followings terms shall
mean:

a) Child/Juvenile/Minor - any person below eighteen (18) years old;
b) Department - Department of Social Welfare and Development;

©) Community Service - a penalty imposed upon a minor for violation of this Act, as
defined and within the parameter of the Diversion Program as provided for in
Republic Act 9344 otherwise known as "An Act Establishing a Comprehensive
Juvenile Justice and Welfare System".


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Fraternity - a group of people associated or formally organized for a common
purpose, interest, or pleasure;

Gambling-

1) playing games of chance or betting in the hope of winning money;

2) wagering money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain
outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material,
goods.

Gang - a group of persons acting in accord who are believed to engage in improper
acts or to be influenced by self-seeking, corrupt, or unworthy motives;

Hazing - an initiation rite being conducted as a prerequisite for admission as member
in a fraternity, sorority, or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte, or applicant
in an embarrassing or humiliating situation such as forcing him/her to do menial, silly
foolish, and other similar tasks or activities, or otherwise subjecting him/her to
physical suffering or injury;

Liquor - an alcoholic drink, especially of the type produced by distillation;

Recruiter - a person who enlists or causes other persons to join or become a member
ofa fratemity, sorority, or gang; and

Republic Act No. 8049 - An Act regulating hazing and other forms of initiation rites
in fraternities, sororities, and other organizations.

SEC. 5. Loitering During School Hours. - Students or schoolchildren are banned

from loitering in public places outside their school grounds/campuses during school hours
unless they are accompanied by their parents/guardians or are attending an official school
function/duty. To curtail this practice, students and/or school children who will be caught
loitering in public places outside their school grounds/campuses during school/class hours,
without being accompanied by their parents/guardians or attending an official school

function/duty, shall be sanctioned accordingly.

SEC. 6. Restricted Areas for Minors. - The following areas shall be restricted for

minors:

a) Videoke Bars/Beer Houses - It shall be unlawful for establishments such as,
but not limited to videoke bars, beer houses, night clubs, and/or any

establishment that offer similar services, to allow the entry of minors within


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their premises at any time and any day, whether or not they are in the company
of their parents, guardians, elders, or relatives who are not otherwise covered

by these prohibition; and

b) Hotels/Motels/Lodging Houses - It shall be unlawful for all hotels, motels,
lodging houses, and/or similar establishments to allow the entry of minors
within their premises, unless otherwise such minors are with the company of

their parents, guardians, or adult relatives.

SEC. 7. Fraternities and Gangs.-

a) All newly formed youth organizations must apply for accreditation from the
office of the city mayor of that particular place, upon the recommendation of
its youth and sports council, and, accordingly, be issued a Certificate of
Accreditation. The youth and sports council of each city is hereby tasks to
guide, monitor, and supervise these organizations.

b) No person shall force, coerce, bully, or deceive any juvenile into joining any
organization, fraternity, sorority, gang, or association. Recruiters from any
organization or fraternity/sorority must secure permission from the

parents/guardians of the child/juvenile being recruited.

) Hazing or initiation rites are discouraged, if not regulated, conforming with
Republic Act 8049.

4) If the juvenile/minor subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites
suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members
of fraternity, sorority, or organization who actually participated in the
infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals and will suffer the
sanctions as provided under Republic Act 8049.

SEC. 8. Other Acts Prejudicial to the Child's Development. -

a) Selling of Specific Products. - It shall be unlawful for any person or
establishments such as, but not limited to groceries, department stores,

eateries, restaurants, bakeries, market stalls, bazaars, general merchandise,

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hardware and construction supplies to sell liquor and/or any intoxicating drink,
tobacco products, illegal drugs, "rugby" and other habit-inducing solvents, or
pornographic materials to minors, such as videos, magazines or any
publication, books or tapes, and other materials that are detrimental to the
development of the child.

b) Smoking Ban for Minors. - It shall be unlawful for any minor within the
meaning of this Act to smoke cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products in
any form whatsoever, whether or not they are in the company of their parents,
guardians, elders, or relatives who are not otherwise covered by this

prohibition.

c) Ban on Rugby and other Habit-Inducing Solvents. - It shall be unlawful for
any minor within the meaning of this Act to sniff "Rugby" or any habit-

inducing solvent.

4) Ban on Liquor and/or any Intoxicating Drink. - It shall be unlawful for all
minors within the meaning of this Act to drink liquor and/or any intoxicating
drink, whether or not they are in the company of their parents, guardians,

elders, or relatives who are not otherwise covered by this prohibition.

¢) Gambling Ban for Minors. - Minors are banned from engaging in any form of
gambling. Minors who are caught from engaging in any form of gambling,
such as, but not limited to jueteng, lotto, all card games, cara y cruz, mahjong,

bingo, and ending shall be properly sanctioned.

SEC. 9. Penalties/or Specific Violations.

a) The parents/guardians of the offender shall be sanctioned to attend a Parents’
Orientation Seminar for the First Offense, and a fine in the amount of One
Thousand Pesos (P 1,000.00) or four (4) hours of community service for
subsequent offenses.

b) The Principal, Guidance Counselor, or Class Adviser of students who were

apprehended while roaming in all parks, amusement centers, and other similar

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places during their prescribed school hours shall be notified by the
apprehending officers concerning the matter, and the above school authorities
shall bring the offenders to school for counseling and/or appropriate
disciplinary action.

Commercial establishments such as, but not limited to malls, video arcades,
restaurants, fast food chains, carinderias, videoke bars, billiard pool halls, and
other forms of recreation, amusement centers, movie houses, parlors or barber
shops, and groceries or supermarkets that allow school children to loiter in
their premises during school days from 7:00 o'clock in the morning to 5:00
o'clock in the afternoon shall be subjected to a fine of Three Thousand Pesos
(P 3,000.00) for every student caught.

Violators whose business involve recreational/sports/amusement related
activities shall suffer the same fine, plus the confiscation of all their gadgets,
equipment, machines, and other paraphernalia such as computers, videos,
billiard pools, bowling balls, machines, karaoke/videoke, television sets, and
the like.

The penalty for the commission of Section 8 (a) shall be as follows:
1) First Offense - Fine of Three Thousand Pesos (P 3,000.00) plus three
(3) months suspension of Business Permit;
2) Second Offense - Fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00) and
cancellation of Business Permit without prejudice to the filing of

appropriate legal action.

‘Any person caught in the act of forcing or deceiving any minor/juvenile, or
those who have forced and deceived minors into joining any organization,
fraternity/sorority, or gang within the campus or outside the school grounds
will be sanctioned with two (2) hours of counseling at the Department and
four (4) hours of community service to that particular City Government if the
offender is a minor, or a fine of One Thousand Pesos (P 1,000.00) and eight
(8) hours of community service if the offender is an adult, without prejudice to

filing of appropriate legal action.


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8) Any minor who is found violating Section 8 (d) of this Act shall be placed
under preventive custody in holding centers until sober so as not to inflict
harm on himself and others, and shall be subject to a corresponding penalty as
listed in Section 9 of this Act.

SEC. 9. General Penal Clause. —
Violations of the provisions of this Act shall have the following penalties:
a) First Offense - Fine in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (P 1,000.00) or
four (4) hours of community service and two (2) hours of counseling;
b) Repeated Offense - Fine in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (P 2,000.00)

or six (6) hours of community service and four (4) hours of counseling.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - \f any provision of this Act shall at any time be found
to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall

remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,