Proposal to punish negligent parents

To reduce the number of out-of-school youths and the incidence of gang wars, a Quezon City councilor wants parents fined and imprisoned for refusing to send their children to school.

Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, president of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay is proposing to make it mandatory for all parents in the city to enroll their children in elementary and high school to ensure their welfare.

Included in the Ludovica’s proposal are the guardians or relatives having care and custody of the child/children.

Ludovica said providing education is one of the primordial duties and obligations of parents to their children.

Section 13 of Republic act 7610 also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, as amended by RA 9231, explicitly provides that “no child shall be deprived of formal or non-formal education.”

With the system of free public education in elementary and high school through the Department of Education (DepEd), numerous public schools have been established in every barangay to accommodate the underprivileged city residents.

Ludovica said the parents, even the unemployed, have no reason not to send their children to school.

He said that poor families can also afford to enroll their children because the Quezon City government provides livelihood opportunities and assistance.

These includes starting capital for business enterprise through the Sikap Buhay Entreprenuership and Cooperative Office; trainings and seminars through the Social Services and Development Department (SSDD); and other forms of employment through the Public Employment and Services Office (PESO), according to the councilor.

Ludovica warned that the negligence or willful refusal of poor parents to send their children to school may not only contribute to the increase in number of the out of school youth, but possibly expose the youth to child abuse, exploitation, discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

With less guidance from the parents, Ludovica said that these out of school youth can be easily lured or forced into drug addiction, criminal activities, child prostitution and other nefarious activities which may eventually lead to other social problems.

By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

mb.com.ph

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