SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 68.11

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 alll 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 earings 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 eamings are kept for safekeeping,
while eaming 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.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 68.11

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 eam 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 shalll 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 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,