To strengthen the protection of children, an ordinance providing for a comprehensive children's welfare code for Iloilo City was passed in yesterday's session of the City Council.
According to Councilor Lex Tupas, the author of the said ordinance, the code will serve as compilation of all the city ordinances that focus on the welfare of children.
Tupas also added that the said ordinance will enable the city government to achieve its goal to be a child-friendly city not only in Western Visayas but of the country.
As stated in the ordinance, the code was established to ensure the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation, to ensure that they are given priority attention both in government and civil society, to advocate for children's rights and promote their welfare and development, to enable Ilonggo children to fully develop their potentials and participate in community life and nation building, and to provide mechanisms to address violations against them.
Based on Article 4, Section 26 of the said ordinance, the city government shall formulate a comprehensive program for children covering at least three years.
Such program shall include prevention, participation, protection as well as rehabilitation. It shall emphasize prevention of children's rights violations to include prevention of child abuse, child offending, drug addiction, and other children's problems.
Meanwhile, Councilor Tupas also added that the community's help is needed to effectively promote the said ordinance.
"Community-wide issues shall be addressed to prevent violations of children's rights through mobilization of human resources within the community," he stated.
Among the national laws that involve children's welfare are: P.D. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act as amended by Republic Act 9231 or An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Protection for the Working Child); RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children), and other pertinent laws.
The ordinance therefore prohibits illegal recruitment, peonage of children, pre-arrangement for marriage, using girls as commodities in benefit dances, discrimination of girl children, discrimination of illegitimate children, expulsion by reason of pregnancy, physical and degrading forms of punishment, pushing and enticing minors to live-in arrangements, sexual exploitation, entry, selling and distribution of pornographic materials; selling liquor, cigarettes, rugby and other addicting substances to a child; smoking in enclosed places and public conveyances, recruitment of children as laborers in pyrotechnic industries, and other worst forms of child-labor practices.
It also prohibits using children in social and/or cultural activities where they are compelled to wear skimpy outfits and/or perform sexually suggestive movements or immoral activities, allowing any child below 12 years of age to drive or operate a pedicab and trisikad, exposing a child to any illegal amusement activity and allowing a child below five years old to ride in a motorcycle, motor bicycle, or motorized pedicab with or without helmet.
All the said prohibitions are based on the existing city ordinances and national laws that involved children.
Violators of the said code may face imprisonment of six months to one year and/or a fine ranging from P500.00 to P5,000.
For first time offenders, the foregoing penalty may be waived subject to the consent of the child and may serve any of the following: attendance in a parenting or any appropriate seminar, community service of 10 to 15 days, counseling sessions, family therapy or participation in required training courses.*
