Humihiling ng suporta ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) para mapatatag ang implementasyon ng amended Republic Act No. 9344, o ang Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
Ayon kay DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, kailangan ang kooperasyon at pakikiisa ng lahat ng duty bearer para sa maayos na pagpapatupad ng batas at pagbibigay proteksyon sa mga children in conflict with the law (CICLs) at children at risk (CARs).
“The DSWD continues to emphasize that CICLs and CARs are victims of unfortunate life circumstances that they have no control over such as abuse, having a dysfunctional family, and poverty. These minors should be treated with utmost care and protection,” ani Asst. Sec. Lopez.
Sa kasalukuyan, aabot lamang aniya sa 108 ang operational Bahay Pag-Asa (BPAs) sa bansa na nagkakanlong sa mga CICLS at CARs, gayunman, karamihan sa mga ito ay walang sapat na pasilidad at budget para sa kanilang operasyon.
Ayon kay Asec. Lopez, kinakailangan din ng DSWD ng tulong para makapag-hire ng mas maraming social workers, pulis, at iba pang duty-bearers lalo na sa barangay level na maaaring humawak ng juvenile justice cases.
“Young Filipinos are the future of our country. In order to lead them on the right track, we need a whole-of-society approach to ensure the provision of responsive and preventive community-based programs that will help provide an enabling environment for them to grow as mature and productive individuals,” pahayag ni Asec. Lopez. | ulat ni Merry Ann Bastasa
