Save the Children PH Joins Global Call to End Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children

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About 42 million Filipino children do not have full legal protection from all forms of violence specifically in places where they should be safe such as the homes. The Philippines joins 134 countries all over the world that’s bereft of a legislation to curb physical and humiliating punishment against children. Dahlia, not her real name, from Parañaque would scream each time her mother burns her arm with mosquito coil for household chores left undone. Whenever Dahlia passes by her mother’s stall in the market, she often hears her mother gossip about her to other vendors calling her a “prostitute” for coming home late. She ran away from home when her stepfather strangled her just because her radio was playing loud. She lived temporarily with friends until her boyfriend got her pregnant. At 16, she will soon give birth to a baby she is not ready to care for.

Sadly, but true, Dahlia’s case is but one of the many children in the country whose lives took a downright spiral because the caregivers expected to protect them were the abusers. In situation like this, the government is expected to provide protection and security for the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. However, the Philippines has yet to pass a policy on the protection of children against physical and humiliating punishment, as an agreed target among member-nations to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals of 2015.

“We join the clamour of children for protection from punishment that hurt, humiliate, and denigrate them. We appeal to our legislators to pass ‘The Positive Parenting of Children's Act’ (Senate Bill 2036),” said Atty. Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children Philippines.

SB 2036, authored by Hon. Risa Hontiveros in the Senate, aspires to assist Filipino parents in adopting parenting methods that align with healthy child development and effective parenting. The method will ensure the rights of children are respected, especially their right to a life free from all forms of violence, including physical, humiliating, and degrading forms of punishment.

Save the Children explains that only one in seven children globally are protected by laws against physical and humiliating punishment which is the most common form of violence against children.

Physical and humiliating punishment of children often happens at the hands of parents, teachers and caregivers. Every year, thousands of children die as a result of violence at home, at school and other settings, and many more are seriously injured.

Many forms of violence against children would be considered torture if they were carried out on adults. It can include smacking, but can also involve kicking, shaking, burning, and forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions. It also includes humiliating treatment which belittles the child.

Support Save the Children Philippines’ advocacy work on children! For opportunities for partnerships, please email supportercare@savethechildren.org.

WWF Philippines announces 15 qualified cities for the OPCC 2023-2024

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The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines announces the 15 qualified cities for the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2023-2024, the flagship activity of the One Planet Cities (OPC) Program.

Since the official launch of OPCC 2023-2024 last March 30, several cities have already expressed their interest in joining the project. The cities of Baguio, Davao, Dipolog, Legazpi, Makati, Muntinlupa, Ormoc, San Carlos (Negros Occidental), San Fernando (La Union), Santa Rosa, Tagum, and Zamboanga are returning for OPCC 2023-2024. Furthermore, Catbalogan City and Naga City (Camarines Sur) have rejoined the program since their last participation in 2017-2018. The new city to complete the roster of this cycle is Puerto Princesa.

The OPCC aims to help cities develop the most effective climate mitigation and adaptation practices and to disseminate these practices globally. Participating cities will be uploading their local emissions, targets, plans, and climate actions. The submitted data is evaluated using the OPCC’s Assessment Framework and its scoring criteria that will focus on (a) assessed GHG emissions and risks from climate change, (b) mitigation targets and adaptation goals, (c) climate action plans, (d) implementation of strategies and/or actions, and (e) results-based monitoring. As part of the challenge process, WWF reviews cities’ plans against good practice climate action planning criteria and assesses whether their targets align with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 °C. The best performing cities will then be put forward to an international jury of experts that chooses the national and global winners.

A customized strategic feedback report will also be provided to each participating city that will showcase the city’s climate journey and high level action-based advice based on the latest IPCC report. This report contains an assessment of whether their city’s climate targets are aligned with their fair share of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, whether mitigation actions align with main emissions sectors and whether adaptation actions map effectively to climate risks.

WWF-Philippines, along with their technical partner ICLEI Southeast Asia, will be guiding the participating Philippines cities on their reporting to the CDP-ICLEI Track.. A series of capacity-building workshops and consultations will be conducted to support furtherthe cities’ climate action and mitigation plans and their alignment towards the 1.5°C target.

“We truly appreciate the continued commitment of these city governments in leading the charge in addressing climate change and low-carbon development. Through their engagement in this initiative, we also aim to guide them in strengthening their local policies and action plans through data transparency, collaborative partnerships and community engagement.” said WWF-Philippines One Planet Cities Project Manager Imee Bellen.

For the next two years, WWF-Philippines will work closely with the participating cities to assist them in acting as transformation catalysts, implementing integrated and inclusive plans in line with 1.5 °C, while ensuring urban resilience, and unlocking individual and collective climate actions. Other local activities are also planned that will involve urban stakeholders such as youth, educators, private organizations and city representatives.

SSS urges availment of contribution penalty condonation programs for delinquent employers

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The Social Security System (SSS) called on employers who failed to remit the contributions of their workers in the previous months and years to avail of the contribution penalty condonation programs during its recent nationwide conduct of the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operations.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet encouraged delinquent employers to settle their contribution delinquencies through its Contribution Penalty Condonation, Delinquency Management and Restructuring Program (CPCoDe MRP) for business employers and the Contribution Penalty Condonation and Restructuring Program (CPCR-P) for household employers.


Under these contribution penalty condonation programs, SSS assists business and household employers in defraying their delinquencies by allowing them to pay unremitted contributions while condoning their accrued penalties.


“SSS always take into consideration the welfare of its members and its employers which is the primary reason why we offer these condonation programs to help them out in settling their contribution delinquencies with us. With the ongoing pandemic, we understand the economic hardships that they are currently experiencing,” Macasaet said.


The CPCoDe MRP covers all employers classified as single proprietors, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, and associations who have incurred delinquencies in contribution payments, including penalties, from the start of their actual date of operation.


SSS Account Management Group Concurrent Acting Head Neil F. Hernaez said that under the program, delinquent business employers would pay the unremitted SS contributions plus a legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum during the period where the employer has shown proof that the business suffered a net loss. At the same time, SSS will condone the penalties incurred during the delinquency period.


“Delinquent employers can pay it in full or on an installment basis. Those who wish to settle it in full payment must pay it within 15 calendar days from receipt of the Notice of Approval by the SSS. On the other hand, employers who will avail of the installment option will need to pay a down payment equivalent to at least 5% of the total amount of delinquency while they can pay the remaining balance up to 48 months,” Hernaez explained.


Meanwhile, the CPCR-P covers household employers who have delinquencies in remitting the contributions of their kasambahays or house helpers since the start of their employment.

Interested business and household employers may visit the nearest SSS Branch Office with jurisdiction over their accounts for the requirements and additional information on availing the said penalty condonation programs.