CARAGA – The Regional Juvenile Justice Committee (RJJWC) here continues its lobbying efforts to the local government units (LGUs) in the region to intensify campaign against the approval of the bill on the lowering of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) from 15 to nine (9) years old.

OIC Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed the strong opposition of the agency against the said House Bill.

“It is not right to punish the young when they commit crimes especially when they are just used by the adults,” said Lim.

“We have to strengthen our laws on trafficking and child abuse and find a better and effective system to catch the adults who are using the minors to commit an offense,” she added.

“When our minors are in prison, they are more vulnerable to abuses, their health is compromised,” Lim stated.

In the first quarter of this year, the Province of Dinagat Islands conducted a Juvenile Justice Consultation Dialogue where the said LGU expressed its commitment to advocate against the approval of the bill on the lowering of MACR. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)