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Senator Ping Lacson has filed the “Parents Welfare Act of 2025” bill. This legislation specifically aims to prevent the abandonment and neglect of elderly parents by their children during their time of need.

The core intent of the bill is to penalize individuals who fail to provide the necessary support and assistance to their parents. It establishes legal consequences for such actions.

Senator Lacson highlighted that while the existing Family Code already outlines children’s obligation to support their parents, many elderly parents who can no longer support themselves are nonetheless neglected by their offspring. This bill seeks to address that gap in enforcement.

Furthermore, the bill provides a clear legal recourse for parents in need of support. They can file a petition for support in court to obtain a support order against their unsupportive children. Crucially, the Public Attorney’s Office will provide assistance for these cases, and parents will be exempt from paying court fees.

Should children fail to comply with a court-issued support order, they face significant penalties. If they neglect to provide support for three consecutive months without a valid reason, they may be imprisoned for one to six months and fined P100,000.

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More severe repercussions are outlined for those directly charged with caring for their parents who subsequently abandon them. Such individuals could face imprisonment for six to ten years and a fine of P300,000.