Netizens Oppose Ping Lacson’s Parents Welfare Act
PARENTS WELFARE ACT – Netizens reacted strongly to Senator Ping Lacson’s proposed bill requiring children to support their elderly or sick parents.
Many expressed concern and anger online, calling the bill unfair and unreasonable. Some pointed out that children should not be forced to care for their parents, especially if they were born into poverty or suffered neglect and abuse.
Others argued that parenting is a choice and responsibility of the parents, not a burden children should carry. Several comments emphasized that the state, rather than the children, should provide affordable care facilities for the elderly. Some labeled the proposal outdated and criticized Lacson for pushing a law that might worsen the struggles of young people already pressured as family breadwinners.
Despite the backlash, Senator Lacson defended the bill, saying it aims to strengthen family responsibility. Officially known as the Parents Welfare Act of 2025, the proposal aims to prevent children from abandoning their elderly parents, particularly when they are ill or unable to support themselves. Lacson pointed out that while the Family Code already mandates children to support their parents, many elderly individuals are still neglected.
Under the bill, elderly parents in need can file a court petition requiring support from their children. The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) will assist them without court fees. Children who fail to comply with a court-issued support order for three consecutive months without valid reasons can face one to six months in jail and a ₱100,000 fine. If a child assigned to care for their parent deliberately abandons them, the penalty is six to ten years in prison and a ₱300,000 fine.
Lacson believes the law will promote accountability and protect abandoned elderly parents. However, netizens continue to debate whether this law is truly protective, or just another burden on Filipino youth already struggling in a difficult economic environment.