THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday welcomed the passage of House Bill No. 08560 or the Overseas Filipino Workers’ Left Behind-Children Protection Act seeking to institutionalize mechanisms under the Parens Patriae doctrine for the protection of minor children whose parents work overseas.
“The Commission acknowledges that while overseas employment has brought better economic opportunities to many Filipino households, it has also led to significant changes in family dynamics. The absence of parents, especially for prolonged periods, can have serious consequences on the well-being and safety of children left behind, particularly in cases where they are entrusted to non-parental caregivers,” the CHR said.
It feared that without the parents, children might be at greater risk of neglect or abuse.
“Through HB 08560, we seek to mitigate these risks and promote the well-being of these vulnerable children by establishing protective mechanisms, such as temporary guardianship, regular communication between parents and children, and stringent monitoring by local officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” the CHR said.
The bill, if enacted, will task village officials to regularly visit the residences of the OFWs’ minor children, and establish a system for a temporary guardianship.
