HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Erwin T. Tulfo and his colleagues from the ACT-CIS partylist and two other solons filed a bill “punishing the willful failure to pay paternal child support.”
The House Bill 8987, or “An Act Punishing the Willful Failure to Pay Paternal Child Support,” was introduced by ACT-CIS partylist Reps. Erwin Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo, and Edvic Yap; Benguet Cong. Eric Yap and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo.
“Ang gusto natin dito ay protektahan ang kinabukasan ng mga bata. Dapat panagutan ng mga magulang lalo na ng mga tatay ang kapakanan ng kanilang mga anak,” Rep. Erwin tulfo said in a statement.
The bill proposes a penalty of six to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P100, 000 to P300, 000 for fathers who willfully fail to pay child support.
“Dapat managot ang mga tatay na magiging pabaya at hindi magbibigay ng suporta sa kanilang mga anak. Ang kanilang anak ay kanilang tungkulin kaya dapat na masiguro na maayos ang pagpapalaki sa mga bata para sa kanilang kinabukasan,” Tulfo added.
The proposed measure proposed that paternal child support shall be at least 10 percent of the father’s salary, but should not be lower than P6, 000 a month or P200 a day.
“At least ten percent ng salary nung tatay, pero kung magsasampa ng kaso sa korte ang nanay ng bata, depende sa korte kung ano discretion nila based sa kakayahan ng Tatay at depende rin sa dami ng dami ng anak,” Tulfo explained.
The lawmakers said, criminalization of a deadbeat father is already duly provided in Republic Act 9262 or the Anti_Violation Against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC) Act, particularly referred to as economic abuse, which includes the withdrawal of child support.
“However, the comprehensive implementation and enforcement of paternal child support, including all other acts to establish the said legal obligation, is still a legislative priority,” the bill said.
“It is in this regard that this proposed measures seeks to establish the amount of paternal child support and streamline the process in establishing paternity which is prerequisite for a child support order,” it added.
Tulfo also noted that the proposed bill will still be subjected to committee deliberations and public consultation with relevant stakeholders to make sure that the rights and interest of all parties concerned will be upheld.
