Thursday, January 11, 2007 Councilors to return budgets of brys. without allocation for kids’ programs
CEBU City barangays will have their annual budgets returned by the City Council if they fail to set aside one percent of their internal revenue allotment (IRA) share for children’s programs.
Republic Act (RA) 9344, or the Juvenile Justice Act of 2006, mandates the allocation for the implementation of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) projects.
The City Council last week agreed that barangay annual budgets submitted to the body will be returned if compliance to RA 9344 is not observed.
In that session, City Councilor Pesquera said barangays would say they could not comply because they do not have a budget.
Program
“They could not even afford bond papers,” she said.
Aside from the allocation, the law also prescribes a comprehensive system for the administration of juvenile justice and the rehabilitation of minor offenders.
Specifically, it mandates that children in contact with the law will undertake a diversion program that will involve their family, community and local barangay officials, making detention in jails the last resort.
The law sets at 15 the maximum age of exemption from criminal liability.
That means cases of children 15 years old and below at the time of the commission of the crime will immediately be dismissed.
The child will be referred to a local social welfare and development officer, who will determine whether to release the child to the custody of his parents, or refer the child to a community-based reintegration program.
Minors above 15 shall also be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program unless he or she “acted with discernment.”
The law likewise orders the hiring of a licensed social welfare officer to implement the law; but City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said the local government will be the one to do so.
Briefing
Meanwhile, the City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children (CCWP) will brief council members and explain to them why the City has not yet complied with the new law today.
Carillo said there is a need for members to understand the new law and what they should do as legislators in its implementation.
CCWPC will also explain on whether or not the new law will affect the City’s peace and order situation. (RHM)
