Filipino family values emphasize love and respect, with child-rearing often involving the support of extended family members. The 1987 Constitution recognizes the family as the nation's foundation, requiring the government to protect children's rights to survival, protection, and development. However, statistics from the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence against Children (NBSVAC) reveal concerning levels of violence against Filipino children. The study showed that 3 in 5 Filipino children and youth experienced physical violence, and more than 60% of this violence occurred within their homes, often taking the form of corporal punishment. In schools, 14.3% of those involved in the study reported experiencing physical violence, with 23% enduring psychological abuse, despite the existence of the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy.
The World Health Organization warns that physical and humiliating punishments, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, hitting with an object, and verbal abuse, can pose immediate risks, potentially resulting in injuries and disabilities. Long-term, these punishments contribute to the development of violent behavior and various childhood and lifelong problems. This emphasizes the need for increased awareness and action to protect children from violence. The Positive Parenting of Children's Act, currently under consideration in both the Senate and House of Representatives, seeks to promote effective and healthy parenting methods. Existing laws, such as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse (RA 7610), Increasing the Age of Sexual Consent (RA 11648), Prohibiting the Conduct of Child Marriage (RA 11596), and the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (RA 11930), though addressing various aspects of child protection, do not encompass abuse within homes and schools.
Authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros (SB. 2036) , Representative Angelica Natasha A. Co (HB 8306), and Representative Bernadette Herrera Dy (HB 1209) the key features of the proposed bills include:
1. Developing a Comprehensive Program for Promoting Positive Parenting to provide parents with non-violent disciplinary methods;
2. Protecting children from physical and humiliating punishment;
3. Creating mechanisms for reporting such punishment;
4. Providing interventions and support to parents and caregivers;
5. Issuing a barangay protection order if a child's safety is at risk;
6. Granting immunity from prosecution to those who report abuse in good faith; and
7. Applying existing laws to prosecute cases of abuse in the guise of punishment.
Once enacted, the Positive Parenting of Children Act will complete the legal protection of children against violence and abuse and will align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 16.2. The Philippines will be the first Southeast Asian country to move away from traditional disciplinary methods. We earnestly urge you to sign this Petition.
Together we can urge the 19th Congress of the Philippines and the President to enact the Positive Parenting Act of Children into law.
#PassthePositiveParentingBill
#KalingaatGabaysamgaBata
#BringingFamiliesTogether
#SavetheChildrenPhilippines