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CURFEW FOR MINORS IN PARANAQUE

Paranaque City, Jan. 30, 2000 - The Parañaque City government has its own solution to youth criminality: a curfew on youths 15 years old and below to save them from being hooked on drugs as well as protect them from becoming victims of crimes and other anti-social activities.

Councilor Jess Bustamante, proponent of the ordinance, said imposing the curfew would prevent the youth from "congregating, loitering or wandering in the streets, public places and inhabited places during late hours."

Under the ordinance, all minors aged 15 years old and below will be apprehended if seen roaming around Parañaque between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

"The ordinance will not only protect them from possible bodily harm, but will also provide them time to study or rest, as well as remove them from temptation to indulge in unwholesome juvenile activities," Bustamante said.

The curfew is scheduled for implementation by the end of this week or by the first week of February.

Exempted from the curfew are teeners accompanied by parents or guardians, students coming home from school and those engaged in livelihood, provided they have a certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).