Friday, May 30, 2008 PSWD urges programs for juvenile delinquents By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
PROVINCIAL Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) officer Liane Garcia has expressed her predicament in implementing Republic Act (RA) 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
She said the local government units (LGUs) outside Bacolod have no programs for children in conflict with the law (CICL).
Her reaction was an offshoot of the recent escape of four youth offenders from 'Balay Pasilungan,' which is run by the City Department of Social Services and Development.
Although Garcia admitted that 20 percent of the Provincial Development Fund (PDF) goes to PSWD for this purpose, the one percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) intended for CICL diversion programs and structure has not been implemented by LGUs all over the province of Negros Occidental.
"What we do is to apportion the PDF for gender and development (GAD) to CICL instead," Garcia said.
She explained that as stipulated in RA 9344, LGUs must appoint a fulltime social worker to work exclusively in implementing the CICL diversion programs.
The law, Garcia added, mandates the Local Council for the Protection of Children to convene every time a youth offender is caught.
The council is given 45 days to implement psychological intervention for said offender.
The council then monitors the progress of the youth for two years. Should there be no progress at all, a case will be filed against the offender, Garcia said.
"Unfortunately, this has not been implemented although we have already called a conference for all (Youth Councils) leaders, barangay federation president and the involvement of the Department of Education in offering individualized programs for these CICL," Garcia added.
She explained that involvement of all village chiefs and youth leaders to take care of offenders at their level is very important. There is also a need for school officials to involve themselves in the issues of the juvenile youth.
"We have reports that there are some principals who will not accept CICLs. We need to correct this since the school plays a major role in the restoration of CICLs," she explained.
