Mayor urges officials to further study punishment bill

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan urged Baguio officials to intensively study the anti–corporal punishment bill before it is enacted into law.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the country might be putting too many privileges on children nowadays, adding that children today are abusive because of these laws that allegedly protect them.

Domogan said parents now have a dilemma on how to discipline their stubborn kids.

He said this bill, if passed, will deprive the parents to discipline their kids.

He also said that the situation will push more kids to do unlawful acts.

Domogan said that in 2006, there were 216 children in conflict with the law while 328 kids were involved in 2007.

In 2009, a total of 486 kids were listed in conflict with the law.

Domogan said the 2009 records of the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWDO) show an increase of cases.

He said 490 children were recorded in 2010 while 2011 has 488. On the first semester of 2012, there were 79 children in conflict with the law.

The city mayor cited the recent record shows a decreasing trend of the minors being involved in crimes.

He hopes this good record will continue through the partnership of the parents, government agencies and peoples’ organizations.

However, he expressed his fears on the effects of the anti–corporal punishment bill. He said if this is approved, disciplining their children becomes complicated for parents. He added children will be spoiled all the more.

He said the decrease of cases of kids in conflict with the law will soon rise again. He stated violence will soon be all over the country.

Domogan, City Councilor Betty Tabanda, OCSWDO Officer Betty Fangasan and lawyer Agustin Laban III of the Department of Education said there must be an intense study on the bill before the Senate approves it.

They expressed the bill should be balanced by promulgating responsibilities of children, too. They said privileges must come with great responsibility.

They recalled their time when their parents disciplined them with the use of physical punishments. They testified this strategy became effective as they grew up educated and disciplined.

Domogan even shared his life story during the 20th National Children’s Month press conference held in the city recently. He said his guardians used physical punishment on him. He added he even experienced grave punishments which led him to where he is now.

He said this strategy should not be demolished because it is the effective way to give lessons to stubborn kids. He added it will even help the children become successful someday.

The anti–corporal bill prohibits the act of imposing corporal punishment on children and amending Republic Act 7610. The bill is still under further discussions in the Senate.