The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) in Caraga region, has extended assistance to some 59 victim-survivors of abuse and some 58 children in conflict with the law (CICL) from January to October of this year.

The children were provided shelter at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and the Home for Girls (HFG) in Barangay Bonbon, Butuan City. These two facilities are being run and operated by the DSWD.

The RRCY and the HFG are child-sensitive facilities that cater to the special needs of CICLs and sexually abused, abandoned, and neglected female children.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said the DSWD FO, through the two centers in Agusan del Sur and Butuan City, has extended the necessary support to the victim-survivors of abuse and CICL.

According to Asst. Sec Lopez, who is also DSWD spokesperson, the support includes counseling and therapy, legal assistance, medical care, as well as education and skills training,

“The children and their families were also engaged in family reintegration and support activities to strengthen their relationships. Recreational therapeutic activities were also provided to promote healing, build self-esteem, and develop their social skills and personal growth,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.

FO Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor D. Libang reported that 31 of the 59 victim-survivors of abuse were already discharged while the remaining 28 children are still inside the HFG with active cases.

A total of 33 CICLs are still inside RRCY while 25 children are already with their families, Regional Director Libang said.

Aside from the DSWD, other concerned government agencies and private groups and institutions also provided appropriate support to the children and their families. #