Legislator: Build CICL facilities

To be shared by towns clusters

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol November 16, (PIA)—Even before officials could start banking on the construction of the much hyped P90 million Bohol Youth Home (BYH) which broke ground in April, a provincial legislator now wants the government to build similar facilities in cluster of towns.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA celebrating November as National Children’s Month, Provincial Council for the Welfare of Women and Children chair Board Member Kristine Alexie Tutor said with the alarming number of cases of children in conflict with the law (CICL), it is just but right and proper for the government to respond to the provision of the Juvenile Justice Law.

CICL have been defined as those who are alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offense under Philippine laws according to the Juvenile Justice Law.

Section 5 d of the Juvenile Justice Law, or Republic Act 9344 talks of the child’s right to be treated with humanity and respect, for the inherent dignity of the person, and in a manner which takes into account the needs of a person of his age.

In particular, a child deprived of liberty shall be separated from adult offenders at all times.

The same law says “no child shall be detained together with adult offenders. He shall be conveyed separately to or from court, shall await hearing of his own case in a separate holding area.”

In Bohol however, law enforcers have raised concern over the lack of a facility that keeps these children in conflict with the law.

While the law specifies two facilities: a youth detention center and a youth rehabilitation center, Bohol still has to see any one of this standing, twelve years after the law was passed with a corresponding appropriation for such facilities.

In April, Bohol local officials joined Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque in breaking ground for the P90 million Bohol Youth Home: a combination of a detention and rehabilitation facility funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH and the Provincial Government of Bohol.

Since then however, no development has been reported anymore.

Over this, Tutor whom the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development tags as a staunch defender of women and children’s rights, said the council is leaving the matter on the completion of the project to the Office of the Governor.

And, given a way to decide on the matter, the petite Board Member suggested that the government to also finance similar facilities to benefit a cluster of towns, especially those that are far from the soon to rise facility in Cortes town.

Bohol local leaders have previously revealed that the operation of the Bohol Youth Home would be subsidized by towns which have CICL in confinement inside the soon to rise facility.

Moreover, Tutor urged parents to show more responsibility in keeping their kids and knowing their whereabouts.

She said beyond that, implementing curfew for minors would be a big help.

Building youth facilities take time and getting them operational is another story.

The said facilities must come in full staff that includes a full time doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, technical vocational instructors, housing staff, maintenance personnel and security personnel. 

With the cost consideration, it would always be good if parents can work to account for their kids at night.

At 9:00 PM maybe, they can still be in computer shops to do research and complete school assignments, but at 10:00, everyone must be tucked in, she said.

It is always the parent’s responsibility to discipline their kids so they do not stray from the right path, she pressed on.

As she rated Bohol’s children’s rights advocacy at a high 7, Tutor said families need to bind as one and keep each other insulated in the comfort of familial love so kids need not go out to find meaning they could not see in a segmented home. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN. BM Kristine Alexie Tutor hopes that other than the mulled Bohol Youth Home, similar facilities can be built and operated by a cluster of towns to help their children who are in conflict with the law and are undergoing rehabilitation. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)