By Billy Begas
Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and three other lawmakers have jointly filed a measure seeking to send to jail ‘deadbeat’ parents found to have deliberately and repeatedly neglected their obligation of providing support to their child or children.
Under the proposed Child Support Responsibility Act (House Bill 4807) authored by Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS Representatives Edvic Yap, and Jeffrey Soriano, parents who repeatedly failed to send financial support to their child or children will be meted with two to four years jail term and a fine of P100,000 to P300,000.
First-time offenders may be granted probation under the measure.
Duterte said deadbeat parents, most of whom are fathers, should be made to own up to their responsibilities by imposing stringent penalties on them.
He also noted that under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (Republic Act 9262), withholding child support is classified as economic abuse and considered a crime.
Under HB 4807, child support should not be lower than P6,000 per month or equivalent to P200 per day. The combined monthly net incomes of both parents shall be used in determining the amount of child support.
In order to compel parents to give financial support, the government can impose liens on their real and personal property for amounts equivalent to overdue child support claims, withhold their tax refunds, report their negligence to consumer credit bureaus, and seize or attach their compensation, settlements and other assets held by financial institutions and retirement funds.
Parents with past-due child support payments will also be barred from obtaining passports. Their driver’s licenses, professional and occupational licenses, and recreational and sporting licenses can also be withheld, suspended, or restricted.
Unemployed parents will be made to participate in appropriate work activities or avail of relevant government programs to be able to fulfill their obligation.
The bill also sought the establishment of a National Child Support Program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development to set up a Child Support Register and to assist in enforcing child support claims.
Citing a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO), Duterte said there are 15 million Filipino solo parents, 95% of which are women.
“Solo parents already have the responsibility of taking care of their kids on their own. They should not be burdened with the problem of compelling their irresponsible and negligent ex-partners to pay child support,” Duterte stressed.
