Effectiveness on the Implementation of Curfew in the Barangay Sevilla, City of San

Fernando, La Union

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

The importance of a curfew that keeps minors off the street and reduces loitering and

crime. Minor-age children during the implementation of curfews must be indoors or

accompanied by an adult or their legal guardian. Curfew in general, no matter where minors are

located must remain indoors. Minors are required to follow ordinances or resolutions by the city

where they live. (Morgan, 2017)

Analysis from the Universities of Alabama and New Orleans, respectively, a curfew may

be used as a “means to protect non-delinquent youth from crime and the delinquent youth the

opportunity to engage in criminal behavior”. The report also showed that the restoration and

maintenance of order in neighborhoods with lower crime rates was attributed to curfew (Ruefle

& Reynolds, 1997).

Parents who let their children out in cases of emergency must be in favor of curfew.

Parents should know where their children are to avoid anything dangerous or illegal. To maintain

the common good for everyone and to maintain public order the law must be practiced and

performed as stated (Richie, 2006).

streets during curfew hours and to provide identification if questioned since young teens need

stricter limitations. Regardless of age, setting any teen curfew is principled (Puno, 2017).

The people nowadays have an experience with a curfew. The order specified time and

applied regulations (Villarica, 2011)

Curfew has helped the teens to set schedules that they routinely follow to develop

important time management skills that they can carry out into adulthood. To manage time is

useful in a variety of situations. Setting a curfew also helped teens to be able to get to sleep at a

decent time, which leads to subsequent focus on schooling and studies. This ultimately led to

better grades rather than having distractions like after-class gimmicks. Even before the pandemic

curfew has been enforced, the primary goal of its implementation was to prevent juvenile crime

and to protect the youth from victimization (Richie, 2006).

In the United States on practical and legal grounds, enforcing a curfew is often ineffective

and unnecessary. There was no observed evidence that the implementation of the curfew

affected juvenile crime, nor any study on its impact and the enforcement on the criminal justice

system as a whole then. Curfew ordinances may vary from city to city or barangay to barangay

but the positive results of curfew implementation on minors outweigh the negative results

(NCCD, 2002).

A similar study, “The impact of curfew enforcement on juvenile crimes in Dologon,

Maramag, Bukidnon showed findings that the implementation of the curfew was an effective tool

in reducing a variety of juvenile crimes and is a tool to aid in the deterrence of offenses by

youthful offenders (Central Mindanao University, 2018).

French word "coverfeu" which means to cover Life. In the Philippines, the known

implementation of curfew happened during Martial Law that former President Ferdinand E.

Marcos declared on September 21, 1972, as Proclamation 1081. The declaration was a

suspension of civil rights and imposition of military authority. Marcos explained that Martial

Law, a strategic approach to defending the constitution legally and its provisions, protects the

welfare of Filipino countrymen from the dangerous threats posed by Filipino Muslim groups and

Christian vigilantes that placed national security at risk during the regime (Proclamation 1081,

1972).

A definite curfew sets clear rules to be followed while also being very clear when

violated. The Republic of the Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, stated his support for

curfew hours in Davao City which was even prevailing when he was a mayor. The curfew hours

ban minors from loitering from 10 o’clock in the evening and five o’clock in the morning.

The Philippine National Police officials say that the imposition of curfew for minors

across the country as well as penalizing parents and guardians of the violators would be a strong

deterrent against crime involving minors and juvenile delinquents (Dalizon, 2017).

The value of implementing a curfew cannot be denied, especially during the spread of the

COVID-19 pandemic, where citizens must control their mobility in their respective communities.

In accordance, the City of San Fernando, La Union headed by City Mayor Honorable Mayor

Herminigildo Gualberto anchored and adapted their implementation of curfew through the

released Executive Order (E.O.) No. 111-2021 pursuant to the Provincial Ordinance No. 298-

2021, prescribes a regulation of certain minors' movements for public safety. It provides that the

minors within the jurisdiction of the City of San Fernando, La Union must be under the law
enforcement authorities to prevent minors’ involvement in crime and with public health and

safety (E.O No. 111-2021, City Government of San Fernando).

Effectiveness on the Implementation of Curfew in the City of San Fernando, La Union.

Similar to the E.O. No. 111 - 2021 implemented in the different municipalities of La Union

Province. In legal terms, curfew prohibits or limits the right to be out in public for the time of

curfew hours. This means that no minors must be seen on the street or any out-of-home premises.

The responsibility of preserving the welfare of the people depends on the practice and

performance of the law stated to protect the country and community for maintaining public order

(Pia et al., 2023). In the City of San Fernando, La Union, curfew hours still be in effect for

minors because “this is still for their protection” (PCPT. Anthonette, 2023).

The researchers aimed to study the evaluation of the effectiveness of curfew adapted from

E.O. No. 111-2021 prescribing regulation of certain movements of minors less than 18 years of

age for the reason of public safety and security during the prescribed hours from 11 p.m. to 5

o’clock in the morning (E.O No. 111-2021, City Government of San Fernando).

As a BS-Criminology student of the Cicosat Colleges Inc. The researchers focused on

solutions to public safety that this research may provide.