By Rapido News Team
THE days of irresponsible or deadbeat parents are numbered. This was the message of ACT – CIS Party-list Representative and senate aspirant Erwin Tulfo after his pet bill (HB No. 8987) was approved by the Committee on the Welfare of Children.
House Bill No. 8987 or otherwise known as “An Act Ensuring Child Support and Penalizing Parental Refusal or Neglect Thereof”, seeks to impose stricter penalties to parents who refuse to support their children.
“This bill will help our sole parents, numbering around 15 million in our population, and serve as their tool to secure the support their children need. Mothers will no longer have to beg or plead with ex-partners or the fathers of their children for financial support.” The ACT-CIS Rep. said in a statement.
During the Committee hearings, it was agreed upon that the financial support that fathers must provide will depend on the child’s need. The law will mandate the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), to determine the amount that deadbeat fathers must provide as child support.
Tulfo emphasized this in Filipino when he said, ”Kailangang kailangan na natin itong batas na ito. Kailangang maparusahan ang mga tatay na ayaw bigyan suporta ang kanilang mga anak lalo na kapag iniwan na niya ang kanyang pamilya.”
He also added, ”Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga kasamahan sa Kongreso sa pag-usad nitong panukalang batas pero sana ay mas madaliin pa ito para tuluyan nang mapanagot ang mga walang pusong ama na tinalikuran ang kanilang mga sariling anak.”
HB No. 8987 is now under review by the Committee on Appropriations to assess the funding needed to establish a DSWD office that will oversee its implementation.
The bill was filed by Tulfo in August 2023, together with fellow ACT-CIS Partylist Representatives Jocelyn Tulfo, Edvic Yap, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and QC 2nd district Rep. Ralph Tulfo.
If passed, the bill will mete a penalty of up to six years of imprisonment for deadbeat fathers who refuse to fulfill their responsibilities to their children.