Anti-corporal punishment rule earns DSWD’s approval, governor’s frown

[samuraiX]

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia believes the Cebu City Council has “gone overboard” in passing an ordinance that prohibits corporal punishment of children.

Garcia said parents have the right to discipline their children.


“Kay kung wala na lang pu’y disiplina asa na man ta paingon? (Where would we be without discipline?),” she asked.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 approves of the ordinance, saying that parents should instead practice positive discipline of their children.

But during his State of the City Address (Soca) last Monday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will veto the ordinance, which he described as “anti-poor.”

Under the ordinance, those who violate its provisions may be imprisoned up to six months or fined not more than P5,000 or face both penalties.

Prohibited

The ordinance prohibits parents, teachers, nannies, housemaids and caregivers, foster parents, relatives and guardians from physically or verbally punishing children in a humiliating or degrading way.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) and Councilor Lea Japson, proponent of the anti-corporal punishment ordinance, hit Rama for opposing the ordinance while admitting he has yet to read it.

Garcia said, though, that undisciplined children become undisciplined citizens later.

“I feel that they (City Council) may have gone overboard. I think reason has to set in here, dili ta magpalabi sa atong gibati (we should not let our emotions overcome reason),” the governor said.

She pointed out that Republic Act 7610 contains provisions protecting the rights of children and punishing those who abuse or hurt them.

Emma Patalinghug, DSWD 7 child welfare specialist, said discipline should be about teaching a child to exercise self-control.

Privileges

Instead of hitting or shouting at a child, she said parents can deprive the erring kid of certain privileges, like watching TV or going to the mall.

She said parents and children should agree on what form of discipline will be imposed
so that children will know the consequences when they break the rules.

Patalinghug said physical or psychological abuse can cause children to become withdrawn.

She said the Cebu City ordinance supports House Bill 4455, which promotes positive and non-violent discipline of children.

While pointing out that Rama should study the ordinance before using his veto power, Young said admitted that there may be a need to refine the measure.

Young advised the City Council to let the mayor’s veto take effect. But he said the measure should be re-filed after the 2013 elections and go through a plebiscite.

Plebiscite

“I think an ordinance that is all-encompassing, that affects everyone, should go through a plebiscite so the people can vote on it,” Young told a press conference yesterday.

He said he expected Rama to veto the ordinance, adding that the mayor is turning it into a political issue.

He said the ordinance is a good measure, and is supported by nongovernment organizations and the United Nations.

Osmeña agreed with Young. He said that since the ordinance involves a sensitive issue, it should not be affected by the elections.

The Local Government Code provides that if the mayor vetoes the measure, the council may override the veto of the mayor by two-thirds vote of all its members, “thereby making the ordinance or resolution effective for all legal intents and purposes.”

Section 54 of the Code further states that the veto shall be communicated by the chief
executive to the council within 10 days (for cities), “otherwise, the ordinance shall be deemed approved as if he signed it.”

Refine

While the intention of the measure is good, Young, also the presiding officer of the council, admitted that some provisions might have to be clarified.

“We just have to refine the ordinance and klarohong ug tarong unsa’y sala and unsa’y dili sala (the measure should clearly state which can be considered a violation) under the ordinance. We have a lot of cases of abuse and I think the ordinance will address that... Maybe there’s also a need to lower the penalty,” he said.

He said some people were invited when the council deliberated on the measure but no one expressed their contents. “And now that it’s approved, they will complain,” he added.

Sun.Star Cebu tried calling Rama yesterday for comments but he did not take the calls made to his mobile phone.

The mayor told reporters after his Soca that he has not read the ordinance yet, but he read about it in the newspapers.

Japson said those who are against the ordinance “misunderstood” it.

“It means to promote positive discipline so that gradually, we can eliminate corporal punishment. It doesn’t say that right after a parent hits her child, she will go to jail. The ordinance lays down the process for that,” Japson said.

source: Anti-corporal punishment rule earns DSWD’s approval | Sun.Star

[suave]

iba naman ang pamamalo sa sobra sobrang pamamalo.... simpleng lohika lang yan...sabi nga ni dyanitor eh common sense lang yan.... hahaha...

kahit naman Bible eh nagsasabing disiplinahin ang mga bata sa pamamagitan ng "rod"... pwera na lang kung ang ibig nila sabihin dun ay bingihin at uyamin ang mga bata sa mga kanta ni ROD stewart... whahaha *korni*

Sana andito si Bishop para i-klaro yang mga verse sa bible about disciplining a child with a rod.

[oversoul1404]

iba naman ang pamamalo sa sobra sobrang pamamalo.... simpleng lohika lang yan...sabi nga ni dyanitor eh common sense lang yan.... hahaha...

kahit naman Bible eh nagsasabing disiplinahin ang mga bata sa pamamagitan ng "rod"... pwera na lang kung ang ibig nila sabihin dun ay bingihin at uyamin ang mga bata sa mga kanta ni ROD stewart... whahaha *korni*

Sana andito si Bishop para i-klaro yang mga verse sa bible about disciplining a child with a rod.

ah, si djaynitor. san na nga pala sya?

BTT: ang hirap kasi sa common sense ngayon, madami nang common sense. im not saying na tama or mali yung isa, pero conflicting. sa dami ng mga bagay na kakaka impluwensya sa percepcion ng isang tao, nagkakaibaiba rin ang tingin nila sa mga bagay.

[suave]

ah, si djaynitor. san na nga pala sya?

BTT: ang hirap kasi sa common sense ngayon, madami nang common sense. im not saying na tama or mali yung isa, pero conflicting. sa dami ng mga bagay na kakaka impluwensya sa percepcion ng isang tao, nagkakaibaiba rin ang tingin nila sa mga bagay.

tama naman....

pero pareng OS.... napalo ka ba noong bata ka pa? kapag nagkaanak ka papaluin mo ba para disiplinahin?

[oversoul1404]

tama naman....

pero pareng OS.... napalo ka ba noong bata ka pa? kapag nagkaanak ka papaluin mo ba para disiplinahin?

oo naman, laki din ako sa sinturon at yun din ang gagamitin ko na pangdisiplina sa anak ko (provided na hindi ako apektado nung industrial xray dito samen). dahil kasi dun, natuto ako na depende sa severity ng offense ko, may katapat yun na punishment. napapalo ako ng sinturon, hanger, tsinelas, pero di naman dos por dos. nasasampal din ako kasi sobrang big deal samin yung hindi pag gamit ng po at opo, tsaka yung sasagot ka sa magulang mo na pangit yung tono. pero di ko din naranasan yung luluhod sa munggo at asin tapos magbabalanse ka ng libro sa ulo at magkabilang kamay.

pero after every punishment, lagi namang may mahabang moral lesson, story telling etc etc, kung bakit daw nila ginagawa yun. and ngayon ko lang na- appreciate. sa ganung paraan kasi ng pagdidisiplina nila, natuto ako na isipin kung ano yung possible effects or implications ng mga kilos ko. kung dati, kapag nagkamali ako, tolerable physical pain lang, pero ngayung wala na ako sa puder ng magulang ko, pwedeng hindi lang sakit ng katawan ang abutin ko pag nagkamali ako, pwede ko na ikamatay.

[samuraiX]

palo lang ba ang kind of discipline we can think of?

for me i can only count on my hand the number of times my parents physically hurt me, as a father i dont like my kids to experience what other ppl are saying they experience when they were kids, the moment their parents used a stick, belt, to inflict pain on them, they hated or had some kind of grudge on their parents, one way or the other the kid will resent or on their minds will fear their parents because of the pain not because they respect the parents

[oversoul1404]

palo lang ba ang kind of discipline we can think of?

for me i can only count on my hand the number of times my parents physically hurt me, as a father i dont like my kids to experience what other ppl are saying they experience when they were kids, the moment their parents used a stick, belt, to inflict pain on them, they hated or had some kind of grudge on their parents, one way or the other the kid will resent or on their minds will fear their parents because of the pain not because they respect the parents

meron din silang ginagamit dati na silent treatment at total ban sa lahat ng bagay. bawal tv, lumabas ng bahay, maglaro mag radyo bawal kahit ano. ang pwede lang alternative other than matulog eh mag aral at magbasa ng libro. and for me, that sucks more than sa palo, kasi nakakabore yun.

kung sa pamamalo, syempre naman, hindi naman yung palo na full swing na tipong pumapasa. may kontrol pa din. ang main purpose ng pag act ng pagpalo eh hindi para saktan sya (at paglabasan ng galit) pero para lang ipakita na may corresponding punishment sa kasalanan nya para in the future, magdadalawang isip na sya na gumawa ng kalokohan.

[samuraiX]

^^thats the point there they will get bored and will not do it again

but palo is palo, your only teaching your kinds, the only way to be discipline is thru physical pain, unless we enjoy back then our palo experience, then by all means let our kids experience it also