MANIILA, Philippines -- A curfew on teens is now in effect in Valenzuela City.

City Ordinance No. 13 bars all minors 17 and younger from roaming the streets without parental supervision from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day.

The Valenzuela city council said the curfew seeks to promote the general welfare of the city?s minors and protect the youth against lawlessness, violence, disorders, and riots.

According to the ordinance, the primary responsibility for requiring the minors to get off the streets is the parents?.

Thus, any parent or guardian found negligent in the performance of this duty will be ?admonished by the Department of Social Welfare or the Council for the Protection of Children.?

The parents or closest kin of curfew violators face fines ranging from P200 to P500 or, in case they cannot afford to pay, five days of community service.

The ordinance also prohibits the handcuffing or locking up of curfew violators. Instead, violators will be held in publicly open holding areas in the barangay (village) centers.

A minor held for violating the ordinance cannot be detained for more than eight hours, and should be turned over to the custody of parents, guardians, or closest relative.