Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY,
Sept. 25 (PIA)—The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Central
Visayas endorsed the P98.78 Bohol Youth Home (BYH) to funding
institutions as the need for a provincial rehabilitation center for juvenile
offenders and children in conflict with the law (CICL) was felt.
At the 3rd Quarter RDC full council
meeting in San Juan, Siquijor, Bohol private sector representative Panfilo
Asares presented the proposal as he points out that the cases of juveniles and
CICL in Bohol have steadily increased through the years.
He added that very little
intervention has been done because of the absence of such facility to house
these children, resulting in children languishing in jail with adult criminals
or released back to the community without undergoing diversion programs as
provided by law.
Over this, Asares said Bohol
Development Council passed a resolution endorsing to the RDC for the
establishment of the BYH for possible funding by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ) and other
funding institutions.
The proposed rehabilitation center
aims to provide a gender-sensitive facility which will offer protective,
rehabilitative, and legal care services to admitted juvenile
delinquents and CICL.
The center entails the
construction of a residential shelter facility which will open for 50
wards in a remote government property in Zamora Bilar, Bohol.
The project site needs to be placed
under a geo-technical assessment to ensure that the proposed structures to be
constructed are safe from natural disasters, especially with Bohol’s sub base
being limestone.
The facility targets to serve
delinquent children who are first time offenders, recidivists, 9 to 15
years old without court cases, 16 to 18 years old CICL with no parents or
relatives to come home to while under assessment or discernment and youths who
have committed penal code offenses needing immediate protection from a high
risk and unsafe environment while undergoing rehabilitation, according to Bohol
PDC.
The facility, which is now pegged at
P96.78 million, will have a fully developed site, male and female cottages,
multi-purpose centers, open courts for sports activities, administration
building, kitchen and mess hall, outdoor stage, drive ways, walkways, ample
parking space, perimeter fence, worship area and staff house.
Asares also disclosed that the
facility is in compliance with international and national laws, instruments and
policies.
BYH operation would be Provincial
Government-managed through the Office of the Provincial Welfare and
Development, with the technical assistance of the DSWD owing to Bohol’s lack of
capability in undertaking the necessary social services.
Similarly, the OPSWD would also
need DOJ in the facilitation of the disposition of cases of youthful
offenders. (rmn/rac/PIA-/Bohol)