Another young life was lost last Monday, 3 February 2014, when a fire hit two houses in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
Authorities identified the victim as four-year-old girl named Stella Jane Romero. She was at the mezzanine of the house when the fire struck.
Her uncle George Hervilla said the Stella was trapped while her 5-year-old brother managed to escape. Hervilla said he and his relatives were not able to save Romero because the fire was already engulfing the house.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, but Hervilla suspects that his niece was playing with matches in the mezzanine when the fire erupted. The cost of damage from the fire was pegged at around PhP 50,000.
What does the law have to say about leaving children like Stella unsupervised? And at what age can it start?
At best it seems to be a bit of a legal grey area, with the responsibility placed on the parents to work out what's appropriate.
According to the several websites, there is no actual law stating the age children can be left at home alone. However, all are in agreement that "parents are responsible for their children’s safety and they should not be left in dangerous situations."
"In many cultures it is usual for children to care for brothers and sisters. While different societies have different customs, in Australia there is a legal obligation for parents to make sure that their children are properly looked after.”
Given that there is no clear direction in the Philippine law, parents are advised to use their own judgment, taking into account their family circumstances and the age and maturity of your children.
Nevertheless, charges should be imposed against parents who’ve left their children at home when it is believed that parents are not fulfilling their responsibility to their kids. For instance, leaving a child under the age of 12 for an unreasonable time without making suitable provisions for his supervision or care should be punishable by jail tile of up to 3 years and provision be made available by the State that will take care of the young children while a parent or both parents are behind bars.
Authorities identified the victim as four-year-old girl named Stella Jane Romero. She was at the mezzanine of the house when the fire struck.
Her uncle George Hervilla said the Stella was trapped while her 5-year-old brother managed to escape. Hervilla said he and his relatives were not able to save Romero because the fire was already engulfing the house.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, but Hervilla suspects that his niece was playing with matches in the mezzanine when the fire erupted. The cost of damage from the fire was pegged at around PhP 50,000.
What does the law have to say about leaving children like Stella unsupervised? And at what age can it start?
At best it seems to be a bit of a legal grey area, with the responsibility placed on the parents to work out what's appropriate.
According to the several websites, there is no actual law stating the age children can be left at home alone. However, all are in agreement that "parents are responsible for their children’s safety and they should not be left in dangerous situations."
"In many cultures it is usual for children to care for brothers and sisters. While different societies have different customs, in Australia there is a legal obligation for parents to make sure that their children are properly looked after.”
Given that there is no clear direction in the Philippine law, parents are advised to use their own judgment, taking into account their family circumstances and the age and maturity of your children.
Nevertheless, charges should be imposed against parents who’ve left their children at home when it is believed that parents are not fulfilling their responsibility to their kids. For instance, leaving a child under the age of 12 for an unreasonable time without making suitable provisions for his supervision or care should be punishable by jail tile of up to 3 years and provision be made available by the State that will take care of the young children while a parent or both parents are behind bars.