The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomes the ratification, by the Senate and House of Representatives, of the amendments of RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act retaining the minimum  age of criminal liability of children to 15 years old.  The amended bill seeks to strengthen the implementation of the existing law.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that  with the ratification of RA 9344 “we can now pursue and intensify the  efforts of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council of ensuring restorative  justice focussed on welfare and the rights of children.”

“Together with other children advocates, we hail our legislators for their propriety not to amend the age of criminal responsibility despite clamor  from some sectors.  This is really our stand and we are glad that they recognized our position that  children in conflict with the law are victims, too,” Secretary Soliman added.

If enacted into law, those who use children to aid them in criminal acts will face the maximum punishment for the crime committed by the children.

Likewise, children aged 12 to 15 who commit heinous crimes or repeatedly violate the law will be subjected to a community-based intervention program.

Moreover, the amended bill provides that if the child failed to comply with the conditions of the rehabilitation center like Bahay Pag-asa or a duly licensed facility, the child would be returned to the committing court for the imposition of the penalty upon reaching 18 years of age.

Another vital provision of the bill is the creation of Regional Juvenile  Justice Welfare Councils (RRJWC) and attaching of the Juvenile Justice and  Welfare Council to the DSWD.

Secretary Soliman said that the JJWC/DSWD hoped to establish more Bahay  Pag-asa in different parts of the country, especially in areas where there  is high incidence of children in conflict with the law.

Bahay Pag-asa seeks to provide Intensive Juvenile Justice Welfare Services to CICL. It is managed by local government units to address the growing  needs of children needing protection and rehabilitation. ###