Wednesday, September 19, 2007 BP helps youth ‘return’ to society
FOR years, Balay Pasilungan (BP) has been helping children in conflict with the law (CICL).
Although it has helped CICLs return to their communities, it has faced cases where the children commit the same offenses again.
Junel R. Gelig, the reintegration officer of BP, said many children backslid after being sent back to their homes.
Dave Toliao, BP’s guidance counselor, believes the reformation of the child depends on his or her environment, parents and the community.
“They are fine in here. They behave well, are responsible and respectful. But when they are reintegrated to their communities, they do their vices again,” he lamented.
Last July, BP requested to join and started sessions with a Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).
Miguel (not his real name), who was a resident of BP and is now living with his family, became a member of his barangay’s Sangguniang Ka-bataan.
Toliao said Miguel’s ba-rangay captain helps make sure that he is present every time there’s an activity.
Miguel is one of the few who are successfully reintegrated to their communities.
He admitted that being away from friends who were bad influences to him made the reformation process easier.
“Amid the problems at home, I diverted my attention to my studies with the help of Balay Pasilungan,” said Miguel, who still visits BP when he has school projects and joins group studies with the BP residents.
Shelter
With the passage of Republic Act 9344 or the Child and Youth Welfare and Development Code, BP will provide shelter to children whose lives are at risk even if they are not in conflict with the law.
Toliao said they keep the minors to protect them from the people who are hunting them down or may harm them due to their association with fraternities, gangs, drug addicts, rugby boys, and any dangerous groups in the society. (Jeshelene T. Diolan, UP Mass Comm)
