The city government of Makati is set to hold a citywide information campaign among residents, community leaders and local law enforcers in connection with the full implementation of curfew hours for minors in the city.’
The move, according to Mayor Abigail Binay, was made to ensure that residents and barangay officials they fully understand the provisions of the newly-enacted City Ordinance 2017-098 dubbed as “The Child Protection Ordinance of the City of Makati.”
The ordinance prescribes curfew hours in the city from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily for children below 18 years old and those of legal age but have a mental handicap or learning disability.
The city government came up with the new ordinance to protect and save the children from getting involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activity, and prevent them from being victimized by criminal elements during wee hours.
“I have directed the Liga ng mga Barangay to spearhead the information drive and coordinate with the concerned city government offices to ensure that residents, barangay officials and deputized enforcers fully understand the ordinance,” Binay said.”©
She added that major provisions of the ordinance will be explained in simple language in community meetings, leaflets and newsletters, and through infographics and videos posted on My Makati Facebook page and Makati portal (http://www.makati.gov.ph), among others.
Among the provisions that will be emphasized in the information drive are the list of public areas declared as off-limits to minors during curfew, protocols in handling rescued minors, and the penalties the ordinance imposes on the parent or guardian of a rescued minor.”©
“©The newly passed ordinance, which amends Section 8.5 of “The Makati City Child and Youth Welfare Ordinance” (City Ordinance No. 2004-A-017), declares it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit or allow a child to remain in any public place within the city during curfew hours.
This includes streets, highways, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, parks, alleys, playgrounds, curbs, gutters, driveways, walkways, and public buildings.”©
“©Also off-limits to children during curfew hours are common areas in and around churches, apartment buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools; shops and places of entertainment such as computer shops, internet café, movie theaters and similar places or establishments; and places of amusement and eating places, whether inside or outside a motor vehicle, or other unsupervised places.”©
“©The ordinance provides valid exceptions to curfew hours, such as when the child is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian, or other adult person having care and custody over the child, provided that the child is not being used for any crime or illegal activity.”©
“©The child is also exempted when he or she is doing family emergency errands, as well as when the child is going home from work, school or religious-related activity, provided that the child will submit a certificate of attendance of the activity.”©
“©Before taking any enforcement action under the ordinance, a police officer, Public Safety Department officer, or barangay Bantay Bayan personnel shall ask the rescued child’s age and reason for being in the public place. The deputized officer or enforcer shall submit a report to the Punong Barangay, the ordinance further mandates.”©
“©On the first rescue, the child will be escorted by authorities to his or her residence and shall be released to the parent or guardian after the latter has presented documents as proof of their identity and relationship to the child.
The parent or guardian and the child rescued shall also sign a written agreement to attend a Parent’s Effectiveness Seminar or other parenting-related seminar, and undergo immediate counselling, respectively.
“©Parents or guardians who fail to attend the said seminar will be penalized with suspension of their city-sponsored benefits, including various benefits under the Makati Health Program (Yellow Card), such as free outpatient services, subsidized hospitalization, and free medicines.”©
“©In the absence of a parent or guardian, the child may be released to any barangay official, Bantay Bayan or Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) member. But if the child has no known parent or guardian, the child shall be brought to the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) for the filing of the petition declaring the child as abandoned and neglected.”©
“©If the child is a non-Makati resident, he or she shall be temporarily placed in a holding area while necessary effort is being done to locate his or her residence, parent, guardian or relative.”©
“©On the second rescue, the child together with the parent or guardian shall be referred to MSWD for the necessary assessment, and intervention and rehabilitation program.
Noncompliance with the agreed intervention will qualify the child as a “Child at Risk (CAR) and will give the MSWD an option to file a petition for the child’s involuntary or voluntary commitment in court.”©
“©Parents or guardians of children rescued twice or more, after thorough assessment by a professional social worker of MSWD, shall be presumed as committing acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation as provided for under the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610) and City Ordinance No. 2004-A-017.
The social worker or barangay official may then file the corresponding complaint with the Office of the City Prosecutor.”©