Butuan City – The Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) urged to establish more Bahay Pag-asa in Caraga region during their organizational meeting at LJ Mega Convention Center in this city on September 24, 2014.

The RJJWC chaired by the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) leads the implementation of the Revised Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9344 which is the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 as amended by Republic Act No. 10630 an Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System.

In the meeting, DSWD Retainer Lawyer Atty. Josefe S. Ty discussed the salient features of Republic Act no. 9344.

The law covers different stages involving children at risk and child in conflict with the law (CICL) from prevention to rehabilitation and reintegration.

“Bahay Pag-asa” refers to a 24-hour child –caring institution established, funded and managed by Local Government Units (LGUs) and licensed and /or accredited non-government organizations (NGOs), providing short-term residential care for children in conflict with the law, who are above fifteen (15) but below eighteen (18) years of age, and who are waiting court disposition of their cases or transfer to other agencies or jurisdiction.

Part of the features of a “Bahay Pag-asa” is an Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center.

Moreover, Orientation on the Duties and Functions of RJJWC was discussed by DSWD Social Welfare Officer III Jessie Catherine B. Aranas.

JJWC shall oversee and drive the implementation of the Act and these Rules; coordinate the implementation of the juvenile intervention programs and activities by national government agencies and other partner agencies which support and promote the success of the entire national juvenile intervention program. All programs relating to juvenile justice and welfare shall be adopted in consultation with the member agencies of the JJWC; and Consult with the various leagues of local government officials in the recommendation, formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for the prevention of juvenile delinquency, the promotion of juvenile justice and welfare, and the institutionalization of the principles of restorative justive.

“Our hard works are really for our children especially those who are at risk. Let us support each other that there are more construction and establishment of Bahay Pag-asa in the region,” said DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli.
Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Regional Director Atty. Marilyn Pintor of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) were also present in the meeting along with the representatives from other Regional Line Agencies.

In the region, only Surigao City operates the Bahay Pag-asa. ### Social Marketing Unit