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Nat’l gov't agencies, LGUs in Region 1 uphold juvenile justice

By Hilda Austria

November 23, 2021, 7:04 pm

<p><strong>YOUTH REHAB.</strong> The provincial government of La Union opens a Bahay Pag-Asa, a center for youth rehabilitation, at Sta. Rita in Bacnotan, La Union on Feb. 22, 2021. The facility caters to the rehabilitation of minors in the province of La Union. <em>(Photo courtesy of La Union provincial government)</em></p>

YOUTH REHAB. The provincial government of La Union opens a Bahay Pag-Asa, a center for youth rehabilitation, at Sta. Rita in Bacnotan, La Union on Feb. 22, 2021. The facility caters to the rehabilitation of minors in the province of La Union. (Photo courtesy of La Union provincial government)

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Public Attorneys Office (PAO), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the local government units are working together to ensure that justice is being served while not neglecting the rights of the juvenile delinquents.
 
In a virtual forum on Tuesday hosted by the Philippine Information Agency, DOJ Ilocos Region fiscal Maribelle Uminga said minors who committed crimes have no criminal responsibilities thus should not be jailed but need to undergo intervention and diversion programs under restorative justice.
 
The 15 years old and below juvenile delinquents go through intervention programs, such as counseling, sports, and educational activities, while those 15 to 17 years old undergo diversion programs. 
 
"We want to know why they committed the crime and they need to go through programs to address the concerns," she said. 
 
Uminga said these minors were given access to justice like legal remedy, psychosocial needs, and their right to participate in all the processes he or she needs to undertake. 
 
DSWD Ilocos Region director Marie Angela Gopalan said the juvenile delinquents are either placed in a Bahay Pag-Asa facility, or in their home with the help of the LGU. 
 
There are a total of four Bahay Pag-Asa, a rehabilitation center for juvenile delinquency, in La Union, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur. 
 
"We wanted them to realize that what they did was wrong. Most of the reasons why they committed the crimes were due to peer influence and poverty," she said. 
 
Gopalan, however, clarified that if a minor offender has no desire to reform his ways, the case against him or her will push through. 
 
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of this city is working on preventive programs within the juvenile justice system. 
 
SK Federation president Mark Anthony Ducusin said they already established 34 teen centers in the barangays. 
 
He said an ordinance was also passed to encourage all the other barangays here to set up their own teen center. 
 
"We have internet connection in teen centers and other services to provide the need for a safe space for the young people," he added.
 
Ducusin said they also included in the ordinance the funding to augment the barangays who struggle to put up their own center due to budget constraints. (PNA) 
 
 

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