For the staff of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY), they see it as a golden opportunity to turn the tides in favor of the Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) under their care, ensuring that they would blossom and develop their potential.

“We are glad to have produced professionals and successful individuals from the center. This only proves that the children are only victims of different circumstances such as dysfunctional families, extreme poverty and peer influence,” said the Center Head, Gloria Templanza.

RRCY in Nueva Valencia Guimaras, headed by Templanza, currently has a total of 50 residents.

Templanza is an AB Psychology graduate turned licensed social worker. Prior being a Center Head, she had stints as Center Houseparent, Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team Leader in Negros Occidental, and Social Worker assigned at the Standards Section, Adoption and Referral Section and Social Technology Section.

According to Templanza, they find fulfillment in the fact that the CICLs are transformed into productive and successful citizens. Upon their discharge in the center, they are reintegrated back to society.

Under the Law, a CICL is defined as a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offense under Philippine laws.

The center is composed of a dynamic team consisting of social workers, houseparents, administrative staff and other support staff to ensure that a holistic approach is implemented to usher the children towards healing and recovery.

THE INTERVENTION

The RRCY6 implements the SHEPHERDS as a strategy, which refers to provision of: 1) Social Services that seek to restore and develop social functioning of the residents from admission to discharge and preparation for family reunification and community reintegration; 2) Homelife Services which the provision of basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and the development of values and appropriate social skills; 3) Educational Services which provide opportunities for normal and non-formal and special education in preparation for independent living or discharge from the center; 4) Psychological Services which is the delivery that involves the application of psychological principles and procedures for the purpose of describing, understanding, predicting and influencing the behavior of individuals or groups, in order to assist in the attainment of optimal human growth and functioning; 5) Health Services which is the provision for medical and dental examination and treatment, psychological/psychiatric assessment and evaluation; 6) Entrepreneurial/Livelihood Services which includes training activities in preparation for future economic independence and selection of occupation/vocation; 7) Recreational & other Cultural Activities; Developmental Services which includes spiritual and community activities that enhance the concept of self and involve residents in selected communities to develop their sense of social responsibility and community belongingness and; 9) Spiritual Enhancement Services.

ADVISE TO PARENTS

In order for the children to not fall prey to commission of offenses, Templanza advised parents to ensure that their kids are back at home at night time.

Based on PD 603 or otherwise known as Presidential Degree 603, it is the role and responsibility of the parents to supervise, guide, and to monitor their children below 18 years old. As a preventive measure of the parents, children should be in their house especially during night time. “That is usually the time when CICL commit offenses,” she said.

“Ang mga kabataan nga dapat ara lang sila panimalay considering nga minors sila, responsibility pa sang mga ginikanan nga ma guide sila kag ma supervise sang ila daily activities,” (Children should be inside their homes considering they are still minors, it is their parents’s responsibility to guide them and supervise their daily activities), she added.

CASES

Cases include crimes against person, property, chastity, morals and violation of the Republic Act 9165.

Templanza sees the increased in commission of crimes against chastity as a post pandemic effect when children and youth were bombarded with social media content, suppressed from social interaction and had to deal with mental stresses.

She assured that the RRCY is doing its best to give a second chance to the CICL under their care.

“We are optimistic that in the future, we will see them healed and recovered and become professionals in their chosen fields,” she said./dswd6/with edits from Bernaline Seisa, BA Journalism-WVSU