Ordinance approved City Council: No corporal Punishment

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council finally approved yesterday the controversial ordinance that will penalize parents, guardians and teachers, who will inflict corporal punishment on children, including verbal assault.

Councilor Leah Ouano-Japson convinced her fellow city legislators to support the ordinance for the protection of children against physical and verbal abuse from their parents, guardians and teachers.

The legislative measure was approved despite of the objection made by Councilor Jose Daluz III, who insisted that the parents should not be sanctioned if they will impose disciplinary action against their children because they have the right to do it.

Japson explained that while it is true that the parents have the right to discipline their children for them to become good citizens, but inflicting corporal punishment every time they commit a mistake is not good.

“Ang akong anak-lalaki nagkinse anyos na lang kana karon wala gayud ko makakusi bisan kausa na lang. Kon masayop ako ra nga pasabton nga dili maayo ang iyang gihimo kay kon kastigohon gud mosamot na hinoon ka badlongon,” (My son is already 15 years old and I have never even pinched him once. If he commits a mistake I will make him understand that what he did was wrong since if you would punish him, he would only become more disobedient) she said.

Punishment is okay

Mayor Michael Rama said he will first read the provisions of the ordinance because he believes that punishment is not always bad for children.

“Kinsa man nato dinhi nga wala makatilaw og bunal sa atong mga ginikanan bi,” (who among us has not tried being hit by our parents) the mayor asked the media during his press conference yesterday.

When nobody answered, Rama continued by saying “Kita lagi, nakatilaw man ta’g bunal sa atong Papa, nganong mga buotan man ta?” (How about us, we tasted being hit, but we are good people?)

Welcomed

Rhea Mar Angtud, the district superintendent of public schools in Cebu City, welcomed the approval of the ordinance.

“That is in line with DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012 that advocates positive discipline so it is welcomed development because the family and the community should have a common law and policy to protect the children. With this ordinance if truly implemented all sectors will be singing the same tune,” Angtud said.

The council’s secretariat is now preparing to endorse the final copy of the ordinance to the mayor for his signature then it will go through the usual process before implementation like publication is a newspaper of general circulation.

Fifteen days after its publication, the legislative measure can be implemented already.

Bantay Banay, a non-government organization, whose volunteers and partners take direct intervention against domestic violence by stopping on-going abuse at the grassroots level, also welcomed the approval of the ordinance.

Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, provides that the state shall intervene on behalf of the children to protect them from abuse.

Japson said the city should “protect the children where she or he may grow up in an atmosphere of love, respect and understanding.”

National Law

But there some people who claim that the newly-approved ordinance is already provided in the Republic Act 7610, meaning it is no longer needed.

The national law, however, did not specifically mention that the parents or teachers are liable once they impose corporal punishment on their children and students.

In the ordinance, punishable acts include any form of physical or humiliating, or degrading punishment like kicking, slapping, beating, lashing with the use of instrument like belt, broom and other hard objects.

The pulling of hair, twisting of joints, cutting and shaving hair, piercing of skin, dragging and throwing the child, threats are also prohibited in the ordinance.

Japson explained that letting the child do some hazardous task as punishment for the purpose of discipline, particularly if it is already beyond the child’s strength is strictly not allowed.

Other prohibited acts are the placing of the child inside a room without proper ventilation as punishment, yelling, and making the child to look or feel foolish in front of their peers or the public. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)