DSWD’s Soliman on ‘batang hamog’ issue: Parents should be more responsible

(Updated 5:49 p.m.) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman on Thursday urged parents to be more responsible in rearing their children, especially the so-called "batang hamog." 

 

In an interview with GMA News TV's News To Go, Soliman commended an ordinance of Mandaluyong City that punishes negligent parents.

"Wala tayong batas na nagbibigay ng parusa sa mga magulang na pabaya... Ito [Mandaluyong City Ordinance No. 538] ang aking nakikitang magandang sundan kasi meron din silang curfew sa mga bata. Kaya makikita mo na mas madalas itong mga batang hamog sa area ng Makati, Manila, at Quezon [cities]," Soliman said. 
 

City Ordinance No. 538 or Code of Parental Responsibility was passed on Feb. 7, 2014. According to the ordinance's Section 12, parents will have criminal liability if they neglect their child and fail to perform their duties and responsibilities in parenting. 

 

Among other rules, they will be penalized if they allow a child to loiter in public places or outside their residence between curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. 

 

Penalties include maximum fine of P5,000 and jail time of up to one year, based on the number of offenses. If they are unable to pay, they will be required to render community service equivalent to their fine. 

 

The DSWD also reminded parents to make sure they can take care of their children until they became adults. 

 

"Tingin ko ho, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng batas na nagbibigay bigat sa responsibilidad ng pagmamagulang. Ito na nga ha iyong tinatawag nating responsableng pagmamagulang, na hindi ka magluluwal ng bata na hindi mo kayang palakihin hanggang 18 anyos," she said.