Mandaluyong to round up child beggars

MANILA, Philippines – The city government of Mandaluyong will round up children loitering in the streets begging for alms, especially those who board public utility jeepneys, Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. said yesterday.

The goal is for there to be no children loitering on the streets or begging for alms before Christmas Day, he said.

Abalos also warned parents said they can be penalized for allowing their children to loiter outside their homes during the curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. under Ordinance 538 or the Code of Parental Responsibility.

“We’ve been consistent with our Code of Parental Responsibility. We’ve been doing that for the last two years. Parents shall be held liable once we see their children outside their residence during curfew hours,” Abalos said in an interview.

Under the ordinance, parents can be fined as high as P5,000 and jailed for up to one year, based on the number of offenses.

If the parents are unable to pay, they will be required to render community service equivalent to their fine.

Earlier, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman commended Mandaluyong City for creating an ordinance that punishes negligent parents.

According to Abalos, the ordinance has been very effective because many parents are now afraid of letting their children go outside their home, especially during the curfew hours, apparently to avoid heavy penalties imposed on negligent parents.

Abalos called on other local government units to copy this ordinance.