The House of Representatives has approved several key legislative measures on second reading, including a bill that officially defines and criminalizes child grooming.
Under the proposed measure, grooming is classified as a predatory act involving the establishment of an emotional connection or trust with a child, or their family and caregivers—either in person or through digital devices—with the intent to commit sexual abuse or exploitation.
Offenders face strict legal penalties, as outlined in the bill:
“The penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period or a fine of not less than ₱300,000 but not more than ₱600,000, or both at the discretion of the court shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of the act of grooming… If the perpetrator holds a position of authority, influence, trust, or moral ascendancy over the victim, the maximum applicable penalty shall be imposed… If the perpetrator is an adult and the victim is a child, the penalty of imprisonment shall be mandatory,”
Additionally, the measure expands the scope of the Safe Spaces Act, penalizing gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace with up to prison correccional in its maximum period and/or fines ranging from ₱250,000 to ₱500,000.
Strengthening Intellectual Property Enforcement
In a separate move, the House passed House Bill 11616 on second reading to bolster the authority of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL). The bill grants IPOPHL the power to gather intelligence, conduct establishment inspections, maintain a case database, issue warnings, recommend license cancellations, and enforce administrative orders, alongside raising administrative fines to between ₱100,000 and ₱1 million.
The chamber also approved House Bill 11601 to institutionalize a community-driven approach for inclusive growth and social protection, and adopted the Senate version of a bill that strengthens the government’s right to expropriate lands for socialized housing.