NON-GOVERNMENT organizations advocating for the welfare of the youth believe that lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) is a “shortsighted solution” that will affect the poor children.

Luz Canave-Anung, one of the organizers of #ChildrenNotCriminals caravan, together with Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights, Inc. and Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. (HLAF), conducted the event to signify their opposition against the planned move to adjust the MACR from 15 years old to 12.

The caravan was conducted at the Cinematheque Centre in Palma Gil, Davao City attended by representatives from the government line agencies, civil society organizations, child/youth organizations, Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children, and more importantly, the members of the Davao City Council for the Protection of Children.

Canave-Anung said the advocacy caravan aims to discuss the proper implementation of the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, and shared best practices of the Barangays and the Local Government Units (LGUs) on Children’s rights. It provides an avenue to explore innovative practices in implementing community-based juvenile intervention programs.

“According to the Philippine National Police, children commit only 1.72 percent of total crimes in the Philippines. Most are petty crimes like theft, which is often linked to poverty,” Canave-Anung said.

Instead of lowering the MACR, the NGOs advocate for the proper implementation of the RA No. 9344 also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and support local government units in providing prevention, intervention, and diversion programs for children.

The measure was proposed because of the increasing number of criminal cases committed by the children and to prevent illegal groups from taking advantage of the youth.