The House of Representatives has finally approved and endorsed to the Senate a measure that would ban all forms of hazing activities of fraternities and other similar organizations.

House Bill 5760 also requires fraternities, sororities and other school- and community-based organizations to register in the respective barangays, municipalities or cities where they are based and regularly submit an updated list of all their members.

The measure is a consolidation of bills filed by Representatives Catherine Barcelona-Reyes of the National Unity Party and  Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe of AKO-Bicol, which is a partylist ally of the NUP. The other authors of the consolidated measure were Representatives Rufus Rodriguez, Maximo Rodriguez, Jr., Joaquin Chipeco, Jr., Evelio Leonardia, and  Sherwin Gatchalian.

HB 5760 aims to repeal Republic Act 8049, which merely regulates but does not prohibit hazing.  RA 8049 is also silent on the mandatory accreditation of fraternities and sororities as recognized school organizations.

“There is an urgent need to address the rampant violence of hazing that occur during initiation rites of various organizations, fraternities and sororities that results in injuries and even death,” the  bill’s authors said.

"We have to eliminate the tradition of violence that had been embedded as a culture among fraternities, sororities and other organizations," they added.

The tougher anti-hazing measure makes sororities and fraternities more accountable  for, and transparent in their actions.

It states that "Any physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte, or applicant as a form of an initiation rite or practice made as a prerequisite for admission or a requirement for continuing membership in a fraternity, sorority, or organization shall be considered as hazing and is hereby prohibited."

"Hazing shall also include any activity, intentionally made or otherwise, by one person or acting with others, that tends to humiliate or embarrass, degrade, abuse, or endanger, by requiring a recruit, member, neophyte, or applicant to do menial, silly, or foolish tasks."

The penalty provisions for violations of the proposed law range from fines of P1 million to P3 million and/or six months to life imprisonment (reclusion correccional to reclusion perpetua), and other sanctions.

Under HB 5760 only initiation rites or practices which do not inflict direct or indirect physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury, to the recruit, neophyte, or applicant of a fraternity, sorority or organization shall be allowed.