Mar wants juvenile facility in every city, province

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has called on all provincial governors and mayors of highly urbanized cities to build a juvenile facility in their respective areas.

Roxas said he wants to ensure the implementation of Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, particularly the establishment of a Bahay Pag-Asa, or a 24-hour child caring institution providing short-term residential care for children in conflict with the law (CICL). 

CICL are those who are above 15 but below 18 years of age who are awaiting court disposition of their cases or transfer to other agency or jurisdiction.

Roxas said that under RA 9344, whenever detention is necessary, a CICL should always be detained in youth detention homes established by the local government.

The law provides that every province and highly urbanized city shall be responsible for building, funding and operating a Bahay Pag-Asa within their respective jurisdictions following the standards set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and adopted by the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC), he said.

Youth detention homes may also be established by private and NGOs licensed and accredited by the DSWD, in consultation with the JJWC.

To date, Roxas said that a considerable number of CICL are still confined in Bureau of Jail and Management (BJMP)-manned jails nationwide.

This is because some judges continue to issue commitment orders for the confinement of CICL in jails due to the failure of local governments to build youth detention facilities, he added.

From 1995 to 2000 alone, over 50,000 children have been in conflict with the law, according to the Council for the Welfare of Children. Data indicate that the crimes most CICL commit include petty theft, sniffing of glue or solvents, vagrancy and violation of curfew hours.

"Bagamat sila ay nagkasala sa batas, kailangan nating ilagak ang mga CICL sa mga Bahay Pag-Asa upang pangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan at hindi sila mahalo sa mga ordinaryong preso sa mga piitan,"  Roxas said.

Among the local governments that had already established their own Bahay Pag-Asa are the provinces of Abra, Kalinga and the cities of Bacolod and Valenzuela, to name a few.

In the absence of youth detention home, Roxas said a child in conflict with the law may be committed to the care of the DSWD or a local rehabilitation center recognized by the government in the province, city or municipality within the jurisdiction of the court.

The center or agency concerned, he noted, shall be responsible for the child’s appearance in court whenever required.

The law requires youth rehabilitation centers to provide 24-hour group care, treatment and rehabilitation services under the guidance of a trained staff where residents are cared for under a structured therapeutic environment.

A quarterly report shall be submitted by the center to the proper court on the progress of the children in conflict with the law. Based on the progress of the youth in the center, a final report will be forwarded to the court for final disposition of the case.