QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1563)
It is titled “Establishing an Integrated System for the Control and Eradication of Mendicancy.” It applies to all mendicants, exploited infants/children 8 years old and below, minors found begging covered by PD 603, and parents of exploited infants/children who are criminally liable under Articles 59 and 60 of PD 603.
Any person (except those enumerated in Section 4) who has no visible and legal means of support or lawful employment; is physically able to work; neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling; and uses begging as a means of living.
An infant or child 8 years and below who is used in begging or who accompanies a habitual vagrant or beggar.
One who has been convicted of mendicancy under PD 1563 two or more times.
It includes preventive, habilitative, interceptive, remedial, and rehabilitative services, each with specific functions aimed at preventing mendicancy, habilitating those exploited or at risk, intercepting maladaptive growth factors, meeting basic needs, and restoring/developing employable capacity.
Preventive: measures forestalling contributory situations; Habilitative: measures providing conditions to maximize opportunities before undesirable attitudes/values form; Interceptive: measures channeling growth/productive energy to offset contributing factors; Remedial: measures meeting basic needs and improving living condition; Rehabilitative: medical, social, educational, psychological, and vocational measures to restore develop wellbeing/economic usefulness and enable gainful occupation.
The child shall be apprehended as a neglected child under Article 141 of PD 603 and committed to the custody and care of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD) or any duly licensed child placement agency/individual.
They are apprehended as neglected children under Article 141 of PD 603 and committed to the custody and care of DSWD or a duly licensed child placement agency/individual.
They are proceeded against in accordance with Chapter 3, Title VIII of PD 603.
They must be provided the integrated package of services by DSWD, the welfare units of local governments, and other cooperating agencies.
Fine not exceeding P500.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, or both at the discretion of the court.
Fine not exceeding P1,000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 4 years, or both at the discretion of the court.
They are proceeded against in accordance with Articles 59 and 60 of PD 603, unless the parents are themselves mendicants.
They are punished by a fine not exceeding P20.00.
It must conduct a nationwide educational and information program on the Mendicancy Law and educate the public to contribute only to lawful fund-raising projects and prevent community giving alms except through organized agencies, subject to regulations.
They must provide socio-economic programs and establish operating units (e.g., reception and action centers, sheltered workshops, and homes/facilities for mendicants), subject to applicable rules and regulations.
Health needs: Department of Health. Law enforcement: Department of National Defense. Integrated network of services and coordination: Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD).
P2,000,000 authorized for appropriation out of any funds in the National Treasury that are not otherwise appropriated.
Repealing: inconsistent laws/decrees/orders/rules are repealed or modified. Separability: if any provision is declared unconstitutional/invalid, remaining unaffected provisions continue. Effectivity: it takes effect immediately.
It should be interpreted to prevent mendicancy and exploitation of infants/children through mendicancy while providing habilitative services to those already exploited or in immediate danger; and to promote rehabilitation of minors found begging and mendicants via an integrated developmental package (preventive, habilitative, interceptive, remedial, rehabilitative).