BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — “Everyone deserves a second chance to change and grow.”
This is what the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Cordillera is advocating to help the youth who are in conflict with the law..
Located in Sitio Payda, Bayabas in Sablan, Benguet, the RRCY is designed to provide intensive treatment in a residential setting for the rehabilitation of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL).
“Ti akem na daytoy a center, idjay nga agyan dagitoy ubbing nga nasentensiyaanen tapnu ag-undergo da iti rehabilitation. Instead a mapan isuda ti kulungan, ipaumay ti court iti RRCY to undergo rehabilitation. We call it Home for Second Chance,” Social Welfare Officer Carmencita Chaluyen shared.
[This center serves as a home to children in conflict with the law who are sentenced or ordered by the court to undergo rehabilitation. Instead of sending them to jail, the court refers them to the RRCY for rehabilitation.]
The center caters to males aged 15 to 18 years old at the time of the commission of a crime.
The RRCY provides a home environment and a group living arrangement with well-balanced, organized, and non-formal activities for CICLs.
SHEPHERDS
The RRCY provides various holistic support services and interventions to its residents embodied in the acronym SHEPHERDS.
Social Services. These are interventions that seek to restore or develop the social functioning of clients from admission to discharge and prepare for their reintegration into their families.
Health and Wellness Services. Chaluyen said they look into the health and wellness of their residents through medical intervention including dental services.
Educational Services. The RRCY ensures that its residents continue their studies through tutorials and modules. This year, five residents finished the Alternative Learning System, and one resident joined the moving-up exercises.
Psychological Services. The behavior or personality of the residents are assessed and evaluated.
Home Life Services. The RRCY exposes the residents to a home-like atmosphere.
“Daytoy ti panagisuro mi kenyada iti panagtrabaho da iti trabahong bahay, panaglaba, panagluto, etc. Ti pinakanasuruan da iti home life is agluto,” Chaluyen shared.
[We teach them household chores like doing the laundry, cooking, etc. They learn home life mostly with cooking.]
Economic Productivity. The residents are taught entrepreneurship.
“Ti trainings da ket ma-facilitate tayo ken masuruan da iti entrepreneurship. Masuruan da nga agaramid iti processed foods, nu ilako da, the proceeds will become their savings. Later on, when they get back to the community, mabalin nga dijay ti usaren da nga pagrugian.”
[We facilitate their trainings and they learn about entrepreneurship. They are taught how to maked processed foods, which if they sell the proceeds will become their savings. Later on, when they get back to the community, they can use their skills to start a new life.]
Recreational Programs. Various recreational activities are being conducted in the center to further develop or enhance the talents of the residents.
Dietary Services. The residents are provided with proper nutrition and food to maintain good health.
Spiritual Enhancement Program. The RRCY regularly holds religious services and activities to provide the residents with spiritual support and guidance.
With a bed capacity of 50, Chaluyen said the RRCY is now catering to 17 residents from different provinces of Cordillera. Residents can stay for a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years in the center.
Most of the crimes committed by the CICLs are sex offenses and violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.
Parental Supervision
Chaluyen noted that most of the residents encountered lack of parental supervision due to their parents being separated or one of the parents is working or living abroad.
She said that some are living with both parents but the parenting style has issues, either the parents are too lax or there is no structure in the home.
This is the reason the RRCY works closely with the social workers of the referring LGUs to work out issues within the families.
“Tapnu nu agsubli ti resident from RRCY, saan a pareho ti sitwasyon a danonan na manen,” Chaluyen said.
In collaboration with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) and social workers, they monitor the reintegration of the residents in their communities.
“Adda trial reintegration iti community for six months. Adda met laeng commitment a pirmaan da, commitment ti family, ti LGU thru BCPC and social worker. We provide update iti court, then we can already recommend termination case na iti RRCY, then LGU ti ag-monitor,” Chaluyen elaborated.
[There’s a trial reintegration in the community for six months. There’s a commitment that they have to sign, commitment of the family, the LGU thru BCPC and social worker. We provide update to the court, then we can already recommend the termination of the case at the RRCY, then the LGU will monitor.]
She also called on the parents to give enough time and attention to their children for them to be guided properly especially in decision-making. She likewise emphasized the importance of balancing time between work and family and providing a supportive and nurturing environment for children.
Chaluyen also advised the children and the youth to have open communication with their parents, and express their thoughts and feelings in a respectful manner.
“Nu mamingsan ket try to understand and iparamdam ninyo sa mga magulang ninyo na kailangan ninyo ng atensyon in a healthy way.”
[Sometimes, try to understand and let your parents feel in a healthy way that you need their attention.]
She added that children can seek attention in a healthy way, not by violating laws.
An honest conversation between parents and children builds a strong relationship. **DEG-PIA CAR
