Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso warned Thursday the city government will file charges against parents who will ignore curfew hours for minors in the capital city and will take custody of children who would be caught loitering its streets from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Domagoso signed the memorandum implementing City Ordinance No. 8547, establishing protection and discipline hours for children and wards in Manila.
He said parents of minors aged 15 to 17 caught roaming the streets of Manila during the curfew hours would be fined P2,000 and face one-month imprisonment.
Parents of minors aged 13 to 14 would be penalized P3,000 with three months’ imprisonment, while parents of children aged 12 and younger would face six months in jail and pay a P5,000 fine.
“The city government, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will take custody of the minors while their parents are serving their term in prison,” Domagoso said.
“We have to put order in the streets of Manila,” the mayor added in an interview.
Under the memorandum, individuals below 18 years old are prohibited from loitering, wandering or standing by in public areas within Manila from 10 to 4.
The memorandum cited that police reports and statistics showed that breach of peace and order of the city at this time are caused by minors roaming around the city.
Domagoso ordered all barangay officials to strictly implement City Ordinance No. 8547, and instructed members of the Manila Police District to follow the order.
Moreno said barangay officials who would not follow the ordinance might also face administrative charges.
“We need to discipline our children. We have to care for these children not only because we are required by law, but morally as a parent, we have to care for these minors,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in Manila now have the chance to work in restaurants in the city after the city government and Golden Arches Development Corp. (McDonald’s Phils) signed an agreement to employ them.
According to the agreement, McDonald’s will hire at least three qualified applicants, including two elderly individuals and one PWD, in each store as temporary employees for six months.
The deal is expected to provide employment to around 120 PWDs and senior citizens to work as order presenters, drink drawers, table managers and guest relations staffs for four hours per day in 40 stores located in the city with a salary of P5,000 a month, equivalent 13th month pay, and health insurance.
Mayor Domagoso and McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth S. Yang signed the memorandum Thursday at the city hall.
Senior citizens must be 60 years old and older, pass the physical, medical, and laboratory exams, and are certified fit to work.
For PWDs, the individual must be deaf and mute (subject to subsequent inclusion of other differently-abled individuals) and must undergo physical, medical, and laboratory exams and are certified as fit to work.
The Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) lauded the agreement.
“Hiring senior citizens, persons with disabilities and physically challenged but fit to work and highly productive individuals to work in McDonalds branches in Manila is commendable company policy. The agreement will attract more customers to the restaurant, provide income for the employees, make Manila city vibrant again and restores people’s trust to the city government,” Gerard Seno, ALU-TUCP National Executive Vice President, said.