De Lima seeks review of 'Bahay Pag-asa' program

Senator Leila de Lima has sought for an immediate review on the implementation of the "Bahay Pag-asa" program, a 24-hour residential care facility for children in conflict with the law (CICL), and check whether the facilities are properly managed and the children are properly taken care of. 

In a press statement on Saturday, De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said that the government should strengthen these facilities and focus on the proper implementation of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (JJWA) and not on the lowering of the minimum age of criminal liability.

"It is high time to review the status of its implementation and reassess the compliance of local government units and other agencies regarding the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, which has been existing for more than a decade," she said.

She added, "The government should also reassess whether these ‘Bahay Pag-asa’ centers live up to its purpose in delivering interventions that would help prevent youth offenders from repeating their offenses once they leave the institution."

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 9344 also known as the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (JJWA) amended by RA No. 10630, all local government units are required to build a 24-hour child-caring facility called "Bahay Pag-asa" that will serve as a residential care for CICLs who are above 15 but below 18 years old.

But a study of the Child Rights Network shows that of the supposed 114 Bahay Pag-asa required under the law, only 58 are operational as of November 2018 and only eight of which are fully compliant with the law.

The youth-care centers also find themselves with low funding as only 40 million pesos has been reportedly spent out of the 400 million pesos allocated back in 2013.

According to multiple child rights organizations and government agencies, this further becomes a problem with the move to lower the age of criminal liability as the government lacks facilities and funding already, and will make matters much worse for juveniles when they are put to jail.

De Lima noted that aside from the issues on funding, violence has been reported to persist in some youth centers such as the 14-year old boy from the Mandaluyong City Bahay Pag-asa who was punched while he was asleep and ended up suffering with several bruises.

The senator stressed that "Bahay Pag-asa" should serve as a juvenile intervention and not as a breeding ground for more violence.

She said, "We need to look into this incident and see if there are enough personnel – from social worker, psychologist, and medical doctor — in every Bahay Pag-asa who can look after the welfare of these children and ensure that they engage in meaningful programs instead of exposing them to more violence."

The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights is expected to recommend the approval of the lowering of the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 to 12 years old whilt the House has already approved the same measure. —Kaela Malig/LBG, GMA News