Senator Win Gatchalian yesterday proposed a national curfew on loitering individuals even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) dispelled criticism on its new drive as harking back to martial law.

Gatchalian said a national curfew would discourage unnecessary night travels and loitering in communities, while Sen. Sonny Angara echoed the proposal by Sen. Richard Gordon to provide ‘bystanders,’ mostly referred to as jobless, with jobs.

Gatchalian, in an interview, said it is high time for barangay leaders to work hand in hand with the national government by coming up with ordinances against loitering.

“They (barangays) can make curfew ordinance to suit their communities,” Gatchalian said. No children should be out after 12 midnight.”

“Kids should be home, sleeping or studying by then,” Gatchalian added.

Angara, meanwhile, noted the high youth unemployment rate in the country, with a Labor Force Survey showing Filipinos aged 15 to 24 comprise 46 percent or 1.1 million of the total 2.36 million unemployed as of April this year.

Of the total unemployed, 41 percent have reached or finished high school, while 36 percent have finished or reached college level.

“According to studies, it can take up to two years before new college graduates can get a job, while high school graduates can take up to four years. The job search is even longer for youth who dropped out of school,” Angara said.

Angara said the law, RA 10869 or the JobStart Philippines Act – institutionalizing the nationwide implementation of a program that gives youth free technical and life skills training placement in internships, as well as job matching assistance and job referrals – aims to reduce the job search period from two to four years to less than a year.

Government, Angara said, should intensify its jobs programs to help the youth.

“The country’s unemployment challenge is primarily a youth phenomenon. The JobStart Law is the government’s answer to youth unemployment. Ang target of this program is the more than a million youth who have no jobs and are no longer in school,” he added.

“They need to be provided with jobs to give them a chance at improving their lives,” Angara said.

Opposition Sen. Franchis “Kiko” Pangilinan, meanwhile, agreed with Gordon’s earlier statement that the law against loitering has long been decriminalized.

Pangilinan, in a statement, called the attention of law enforcers, saying that loitering is not a crime.

“Republic Act 10158 has decriminalized vagrancy, amending Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code. The police and the military should do its job well and in accordance with the law,” Pangilinan said.

In press briefing, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said there was nothing new about the campaign against undesirable individuals loitering the streets.

He said this has been done even when he was chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).