‘Anti-spanking ordinance not biased vs poor’

The anti-spanking ordinance isn’t anti-poor contrary to claims by critics like Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, one of its four proponents said yesterday.

Councilor Leah Japson said the ordinance doesn’t penalize first-time offenders with a P5,000 fine or imprisonment.

Only repeat violators are meted these sanctions, she said. “The ordinance isn’t that strict,” Japson said.

She appealed to Mayor Rama to read the ordinance first before deciding to veto it as he announced in his State of the City Address last Monday.

Japson, who chairs the council committee on women and children, said Mayor Rama would better appreciate the ordinance which the council passed last June 27 if he reads it.

“I hope he doesn’t politicize the ordinance,” she said.

Japson said contrary to Rama’s claim, the ordinance doesn’t duplicate national laws like Republic Act 7610 on the protection of children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

Japson said the ordinance focuses on positive discipline rather than corporal punishment.

“I think this (the city ordinance) is the first of its kind in the Philippines,” she said.

Japson said a similar legislation, House Bill 4455 authored by partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon and Rep. Susan Yap of Tarlac’s 2nd District was already  passed by Congress last year.

But the bill entitled “Promoting Positive Discipline of Children and Prohibiting Corporal Punishment Act”  was not enacted into law by the Senate, Japson said.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said non-government organizations (NGOs) campaigning for the promotion of child welfare lobbied for the passage of the ordinance.

“I already warned the council that it would be politicized.  And it has happened,” he said.

Mayor Rama said he intends to veto the ordinance because it is anti-poor.

The mayor said he will send his veto message to the council within the week. He also asked Councilors Jose Daluz III and Edgar Labella to help him identify a better alternative to the ordinance.

Japson said first-time violators will be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) for counseling.

They will also be taught means to implement positive discipline.

Japson said only repeat offenders may be recommended for filing of court cases against them.

If found guilty they will be fined P5,000 or suffer imprisonment for a maximum of six months.

Japson also criticized the mayor for announcing his veto.

“I didn’t expect he would include the ordinance in his address,” she said.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district proposed holding a referendum on the ordinance after the 2013 election to expand discussions and avoid partisan politics.

Osmeña said he doesn’t believe spanking can help discipline a child.

He said he was once whipped by his father, Don Sergio Jr., but “I don’t think it helped me.”

Osmeña said he once poured a glass of water on his son Miguel to calm him down when he was upset and started to scream.

“It stunned Miguel and he kept quiet,” a grinning Osmeña said.

“I want to participate in discussions because I am as curious.  Maybe there is (also) a middle ground somewhere,” he added.

Osmeña also chided Rama for opposing the ordinance, saying the mayor only wants to be identified with the poor.

He said the mayor is anti-poor for refusing to provide relocation to displaced residents like the Mahiga Creek occupants.

For her part, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia doesn’t favor the ordinance.

She told reporters in Boljoon town last Monday that parents have the right to physically discipline their children.

The governor said she was interviewed on the subject in a national TV program last Monday.

She said she had to clarify that the anti-spanking ordinance isn’t in the province but in Cebu City.

“There are already laws against child abuse. I think the ordinance just caught national media’s attention,” Garcia said. With Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus