MANILA, Philippines?Parents in Quezon City, beware: An ordinance in the works provides for sanctions against parents who fail to send their children to school.

A measure would require parents to enrol their kids in elementary and high school on pain of being fined or even jailed.

The proposed ordinance, filed by Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica , defines parents to include guardians or relatives who have custody of a child.

The measure, if approved, would impose a fine of P5,000 or a year's imprisonment for failure to send a child to school.

Ludovica said it was important to make the enrolment of children in basic education mandatory to ensure their welfare.

?Providing education is one of the primordial duties and obligations of parents to their children,? the councilor added.

He noted that Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, states that ?no child shall be deprived of formal or non-formal education.?

The Department of Education has a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels, enabling even underprivileged residents to send their young to school.

Ludovica said there was no reason for even unemployed parents not to enrol their kids in public schools.

?Poor families can now afford to enroll their children because the city government is now offering livelihood opportunities,? he said, citing efforts of the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office, the Social Services and Development Department and the Public Employment and Services Office.