BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here stresses the importance of providing emotional support to children in conflict with the law who are undergoing rehabilitation.
“Aside from the interventions being provided by the rehabilitation centers, support from the family and the community can help the children cope with the process,” shared Social Worker Novelia Naisod, head of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) located in Sablan, Benguet.
“We want the CICLs to be rehabilitated and be reintegrated in the community through various activities like spiritual enhancement programs, psychological and educational services and others, but putting them in the center is the last resort. Let us be reminded that there are other ways of helping these children through community-based intervention and diversion programs”, Naisod said.
Aside from center-based treatments, there are also community-based intervention programs for CICL.
“Not all CICLs are required to go to the centers.The children could stay in the community but this is based on the gravity of their cases and on the assessment of our social workers. Through a program designed and implemented in partnership with the barangay government and the local social welfare and development office, the children are guided towards his or her rehabilitation”, Naisod added.
Since January 2016, there are 26 clients served in the RRCY of the DSWD. Three of the cases have been dismissed by the court, seven discharged for trial reintegration, and one client discharged for drug rehabilitation.
“Though these children have committed activities against the law, they are in some ways victims too. We try our best to provide them the interventions that they need for them to be reintegrated to their communities and become productive members of such. We ask the support not only of their families but most especially, the communities that they are in because these children deserve a second chance”, Naisod explained.
The RRCY is a facility designed to provide intensive treatment in a residential setting for the rehabilitation of CICL whose sentences have been suspended. It serves as a nurturing out-of-home placement for children in need of rehabilitation.
The Center caters to CICL aged 15 years to not more than 18 years old male, who have committed an offense and ordered by the court to undergo rehabilitation. CICL who are on suspended sentence may, upon order of the court, undergo any or a combination of disposition measures appropriate to their rehabilitation and welfare. **Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
