DavNor opens halfway house for CICL

DAVAO DEL NORTE – The provincial government opened the provincial transition home for children in conflict with law (CICL) in New Corella.

Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Priscilla Razon, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI inaugurated the Bahay Pag-Asa, the temporary shelter for CICL in the province.

Razon said that facility is the fifth of its kind in the region; the others are in Davao City, Nabuntaran, Banaybanay and Mati City.

She said that the Bahay Pag-Asa can accommodate a maximum of 25 male CICL for rehabilitation and counselling.

Razon said that a CICL can stay in the facility for a maximum of six month, which will assess and handle the child’s physical, psychosocial, mental and economic well-being.

Arlene Semblante, provincial social welfare development officer, said that the house will have five personnel excluding the security staff, which will be assigned as house parents.

“During their stay in the Bahay Pag-Asa, the children will be treated in a house-like environment and will also avail of different skills training,” Semblante said.

Razon added that the DSWD regional office will continue to provide technical assistance and collaborate with the provincial office to give quality case management to the center and a wholistic rehabilitation of the CICL.

The Bahay Pag-Asa is located in a two-hectare public land donated by the municipal government of New Corella.

Governor Del Rosario encouraged the Sangguniang Panlungsod to declare the area as Davao del Norte Welfare Village and the center as “The Healing Field.”

He said that the area is a welfare village not just because of the CICL facility, but also it is adjacent to Luntiang Paraiso, a drug rehabilitation center.

Del Rosario added that aside from the two facilities, a building will also rise within the area for the women in crises.

Provincial Prosecutor Norman Solis bared that the province has a total number of 30 CICL.

He said that the number is increasing not because there were small number of incidents in the province before but because many were aware of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or Republic Act 9344 and actually filed cases against the youthful offenders.

Solis also urged the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council in the province to also prepare the community in terms of their perspective in CICL through intensive advocacy to avoid discrimination on the part of the children after their rehabilitation. (PIA 11

Michael Uy)