The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) will sign today, Monday, June 16, the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9344 as amended by Republic Act 10630 also known as an “Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System in the Philippines, amending for the purpose Republic Act 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006”.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the signing of the implementing rules “is another milestone in our goal to establish a better restorative juvenile justice system in the country for the promotion and protection of the welfare of children at risk and children in conflict  with the law (CICL).”

Representatives from the JJWC member-agencies and partner-agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), local government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders who contributed in crafting the revised IRR will also witness the signing.

One important amendment of the law is the provision of a comprehensive and effective juvenile intervention program that aims to reduce, if not address the involvement of children in crimes.

“The establishment of an Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (IJISC) for children under the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Bahay Pag-Asa is one of the key enhancements in the law,” Sec. Soliman explained.

Bahay Pag-Asa is a 24-hour residential facility that provides temporary care and serves as a rehabilitation center for CICL instead of jails, and with the goal of eventually reintegrating them with their families.

To date, there are eight operational and 10 constructed Bahay Pag-Asa in various regions.

The amended law also provides for the allocation of P400 million that will be coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fund the construction of Bahay Pag-Asa in identified priority local government units by the JJWC.

Sec. Soliman also emphasized the importance of retaining the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 15 years old as stipulated in RA 9344.

The Secretary, however, stressed that under the revised law, the specific treatment, process and intervention program to be administered to children who committed a crime but cannot be criminally charged is made clear.  This is to ensure that the children are made aware of their accountability and to dispel any misconception that erring children are not held liable for their actions.

The ceremonial signing will also mark the transfer of JJWC supervision from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the DSWD as an attached agency.

“We at DSWD welcome the JJWC with open arms.  For the last eight years, we have been working closely with the council and we deeply support its endeavors in ensuring the full implementation of the law. DSWD is hopeful that this will bring about an enhanced and strengthened JJWC and more importantly, make communities safer for children,” the Secretary concluded. ###