House passes bill banning corporal punishment for children

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill which would protect children from corporal punishment on Tuesday.

House Bill 4907 or the "Positive Discipline Act" promotes positive and non-violent forms of discipline for children, instead of physical punishment.

Visit our Bill Tracker to view the proposed measure.

"Under this bill, the proposed prohibited acts are: forcing the minor to kneel on stones, salt or pebbles; squatting; public humiliation; deliberate neglect of child's physical needs; exposure to substances that can cause discomfort and imposing tasks that the minor is incapable of doing such as forcing to skip sleep and verbal assaults," author of the bill and Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap said.

Yap noted that as future productive citizens of the country, children should be raised in an environment that fosters positive reinforcement of behavior instead of corporal punishment that instills domestic violence.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, co-author of the bill, lauded its passage, adding that the value of self-control and responsibility must be inculcated among children.

“We strongly discourage parents and guardians to discipline with sticks, which, in the long run, may prove counterproductive, for both parents and children,” Gutierrez said.

The measure provides that suspected transgressors undergo seminars and counseling on children's right, positive and non-violent discipline  of children, anger management and other rehabilitative services.

The local Social and Welfare Development Office will assess if the accused will be penalized with arresto mayor (imprisonment from one month and one day to six months) or arresto menor (one day to 30 days).