Lawmakers in the House of Representatives filed a bill seeking to protect children from physical, humiliating, and degrading forms of punishment.
House Bill No. 1269 or a bill promoting positive parenting and non-violent discipline was filed by Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy.
“Ayaw rin naman nating tanggalan ng karapatan yung mga magulang pero minsan lumalagpasa ang mga magulang sa kanilang pagdidisiplina especially in communities where akala nila normal ito dahil kinagisnan rin nila,” Dy said on Monday during a House session.
Section 5 of the bill states that "No child shall be subjected to any form of physical, humiliating acts as a form of punishment... in homes, institutions, alternative care systems, then juvenile welfare system, places of religious worship, and in all other settings where there is direct contact with a child."
The suggested measure calls for barangay-level initiatives.
If the offense is penalized by the Revised Penal Code and other specific legislation, it does not bar the filing of criminal prosecutions.
It mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Education (DEPED), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Departments of Health (DOH), Justice, and Labor and Employment to develop a program to support positive and nonviolent discipline.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, corporal punishment is used against three out of every four kids and teenagers between the ages of five and 14.
This has an impact on both their academic achievement and mental and physical growth. Moreover, children may also grow violent inclinations as a result of this.
In 2019, both chambers of Congress passed a consolidated version of the proposed legislation but it was vetoed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte. Lawmakers said they
