Republic Act 7610 or also known as Special Protection of Children Against Child

Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.” is an act providing for stronger deterrence and
special protection against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination, Providing Penalties for
Its Violation, and For Other Purposes.

This law has thirteen articles that embrace all the information about this law. This was
approved on June 17, 1992 held in Metro Manila by the leadership of the late president Corazon
C. Aquino. The thirteen articles are the following:

Article 1 – Title, Principles, and Definition of Terms

Article 2 – Program on Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination

Article 3 – Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse

Article 4 – Child Trafficking

Article 5 – Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows

Article 6 – Other Acts of Abuse

Article 7 – Sanctions fro Establishments or Enterprises

Article 8 – Working Children

Article 9 – Children of Indigenous Cultural Communities

Article 10 – Children in Situation of Armed Conflict

Article 11 – Remedial Procedures

Article 12 – Common Penal Provisions

Article 13 – Final Provisions

“Children” refers to persons below eighteen (18) years old age or those over but are
unable to fully take care of themselves from abuse neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
because of a physical or mental disability condition. Our children are the definition of love, hope,
innocence and harmony for we can see these virtues upon them. The main reason or the aim of
this law, which is RA 7610, is to protect our children from any form of illegal judgments,
persecutions, and treatment.

On the first article, it has 3 sections that discusses the title, policy, principles and
definition of terms where Section 1 is the acknowledgement of the title of this law. The Section 2
states the declaration of the state policy and principles where is says that the state shall be
responsible for the protection of children in any forms of abuse and would intervene on behalf of
the child when the parents, guardians or teachers is unable to protect the child against abuses.
The last section for this article states the definition of terms of this law that could help us
understand more about it: Child abuse that refers to maltreatment, whether habitual or not, the
circumstances which gravely threaten or endanger the survival and normal development of
children, and comprehensive program against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

The second articles, Section 4 are the comprehensive programs offered by the
Government agencies: Department of Justice and Department of Social Welfare and
Development, against child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.

The third article, Section 5 talks about child prostitution and other sexual abuse that
defines children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other consideration or
due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct, are known to be that children exploited in prostitution and other sexual
abuse. Section 6, talks about the Attempt to Commit Child Prostitution.

Article 4 Section 7, also known as Child Trafficking states that a person who engage in
trading and dealing with children including, the act of buying and selling of a child for money or
for any other consideration, or barter. Section 8, is the attempt to commit child trafficking under
Section 7.

On the 5th Article, Section 9, Any person who hires, employs, uses, persuades, induce or
coerce a child to perform on such platforms and indecent shows, whether live or in video, or
model in publications or pornographic materials or to sell / distribute the said materials, and
also, if the child is used as performer, subject or seller/distributor.

Section 10 of Article 6 discuses Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or exploitation

and other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s Development, such examples of this Article are
when a person keeps his company to a minor in any public or private place, may be a hotel,
motel, beer joint and etc. And any person, owner, manger or one entrusted with the operation of
any public or private place who allows him to such place or places any minor herein described
shall be imposed a penalty. Any person who shall use, coerce, force or intimidate a streetchild or
any other child to beg or use begging as means of living, act as a conduit or middlemen in drug
trafficking or pushing and conduct illegal activities, shall be offered penalty. Moreover, the
victim of the acts committed under this article and section shall be entrusted to the care of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development.

On the 7th Article, Section 11 is for the Sanctions of the Establishments or Enterprises
who promote or facilitate child prostitution, other sexual abuse and child trafficking shall be
immediately close and their authority or license to operate cancelled without the prejudice pf the
owner or manager. The sign “off limits” shall be posted or displayed outside the establishments
or enterprises by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for such period which shall
not be less than one (1) year, as the Department may determine. Unauthorized removal of such
sign may face punishment by prision correctional.

On the 8th article, Section 12 defines Employment of Children such that children below
15 years old may be employed by following th provided minimum requirement. Section 13, Non
– formal Education for Working Children, that The Department of Education, Culture and Sports
shall promulgate non – formal education for working children for them to provided of
intellectual, vocational, and moral efficiency. Section 14, states that no person could use any
child in advertisements of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and its by products, and violence.
Section 15, Duty of the Employer, such that every employer shall comply with the duties
provided for in Articles 108 and 109 of Presidential Decree No. 603. Section 16, the Penalties,
any person who shall violate any of provision of this Article shall suffer the penalty of One
Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) but not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than three (3) years.

Article 9, Section 17 to 21, states that children form indigenous cultural communities
shall be entitled of protection, survival and development together with their customs and
traditions of their respective communities. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports
shall develop and institute alternative learning ground of the indigenous children with a culture-
specific and relevant to the needs and existing situations of their communities. Also, the delivery
of basic social services in health and nutrition to children of indigenous cultural communities
shall be given priority to all. Hospitals and other health institutions shall give equal attention to
children of indigenous cultural communities. The children of indigenous cultural communities
shall not be a subject to all forms of Discrimination, any forms of discrimination shall suffer
arresto mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (Php
5,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00). Moreover, appointed
representative of Indigenous Cultural Communities shall be involved in planning, decision-
making, implementation, and evaluation of all government programs affection children of
indigenous cultural communities. Thus, Indigenous institutions shall also be recognize and
respected.

Section 22 to 26 of Article 10, states that the State and all sectors concerned shall have
the responsibility to resolve armed conflicts in order to promote the goal of children as zones of
peace. Children shall be given priority during evaluation as a result of armed conflict. Important
measures shall be taken to ensure the safety of the well-being of the children. Whenever
possible, members of the same family shall be housed in the same premises and given separate
accommodation from other evacuees and provided with facilities to lead a normal life. And, any
child who has been arrested for reasons related to armed conflict, either as combatant, courier,
guide or spy is entitled to the following rights: (1) Separate detention from adults except where
families are accommodated as family units, (2) Immediate free legal assistance, (3) Immediate
notice of such arrest to the parents or guardian of the child; and
(4) Release of the child on recognizance within 24 hours to the custody of the Department of
Social Welfare an Development or any responsible member of the community as determined by
the court. Lastly, the chairman residing in the said barangay affected by the armed conflict shall
submit names of the children residing in the said barangay to the municipal social welfare and
development officer within 24 hours.

Lastly, Article 11, Section 27 to 30 talks about the Complaints, Protective custody of the
Child. Confidentiality of the complaint, Special Court Proceedings. Article 12 and 13, talks
about the Common Penal Provisions and Final Provisions.

Therefore, the aim of this Law is to protect our children to be deprived, abused and
discriminated from all aspects of their rights to live in our country. The articles that was
mentioned above was to promote a child-friendly community, for us to realize that our children
are the hope of tomorrow.
 STO. TOMAS COLLEGE, DANAO CITY, INC.

S.Y. 2019- 2020

REACTION PAPER
IN
PHILIPPINE POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
(R.A. 7610 – “SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, AND
DISCRIMINATION ACT”)

CLYDE ANGELO A. MONEVA

GRADE 11 – ST. POSSIDIUS STUDENT

MS. ROSEMARIE SALVE CAPIN

SUBJECT TEACHER