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DSWD affirms: Youth rehab center not a prison

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DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI has affirmed that its Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) is not a prison cell but a rehabilitation and transformation center for children in conflict with the law (CICL).

DSWD XI’s RRCY head, Angelic Paña, said in a radio program of the Davao City Disaster Radio that they are campaigning to erase this notion that the rehabilitation center is a prison facility.

Paña reiterated that as a rehabilitation center, RRCY provides psychosocial support, treatment, and interventions to youth offenders to restore their social function for better and more successful reintegration into their communities and families once discharged from the center.

She emphasized that the CICLs in the center are not criminals, saying, “They are just victims of circumstances that need rehabilitation and need help from us for them to be effective in the future in their respective families and communities.”

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Paña also clarified that despite being minors, over 15 but below 18 years old, there is still a case filed before the court for the crime committed.

She, however, said that the sentence is suspended for the time being. Instead of a sentence, the court issued an order mandating their rehabilitation in the RRCY.

To facilitate the rehabilitation of the CICLs, the RRCY implements transformative programs and activities ranging from home life to social, psychological, productivity and skill development, medical, and educational.

This is to prepare them for their reintegration into their respective communities and families.

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Angelic Paña, DSWD-XI’s RRCY head, reiterates that its rehabilitation center for youth offenders is not a prison cell, and the center does not its CICL residents criminals.
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The center is managed by trained personnel and professionals such as social workers who also act as house parents, psychologists or psychometricians and medical practitioners, among others.

They regularly attend to the basic mental, medical, and spiritual needs of the CICLs, provide rehabilitation interventions like counseling, and manage the cases of the CICLs in courts.

Paña said that the center is collaborating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the skills development of the CICLs, particularly in equipping them with technical skills to get a national certificate.

Since there are CICLs who are still studying while admitted to the center, she said they also partnered with Emar Learning Center, Inc. so that they can continue their studies inside the center.

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The City Government of Davao consistently supports the CICLs in DSWD-XI's RRCY in Davao City by providing various services such as medical. (Photo courtesy of City Government of Davao)
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“We implement a multi-grade system for the CICLs to continue their education here. We have elementary, high school, and even senior high,” she added.

The Land Transportation Office also offers driving lessons in the center and facilitates the processing of student permits and driver’s licenses for the CICLs.

Paña said the CICL’s admission and the number of months spent in the center depend on the court order.

This also goes true for the discharge policy, which depends on the court order and the performance of the children at the center.

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She added that they submit their assessment and evaluation to the court, indicating whether the CICL is ready to be discharged and integrated into their community. 

After their discharge, they still undergo an aftercare program where social workers consistently monitor them in their community.

At present, Paña said that the DSWD-managed RRCY in Davao City has a total of 72 CICL residents coming from different areas in the region.

The facility is located in Barangay Bago Oshiro, which caters to all CICLs in the region, while some local government units are still establishing their own Bahay Pag-asa for CICLs. (ASO/PIA-XI/Thumbnail photo from DSWD XI)

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Antonino Oblianda

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