NAGHAIN ng panukalang batas nitong Martes si House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo at apat pang mambabatas na naglalayong magtatag ng pasilidad sa kada probinsya ng bansa para sa mga minor offender o children in conflict with the law.
Ang House Bill No. 10276 o “An Act Establishing Additional Houses of Hope for Children in Conflict with the Law,” ay isinampa ni Tulfo at ng kanyang mga kasamahan mula sa ACT-CIS partylist na sina Reps. Edvic Yap at Jocelyn Tulfo; Benguet Cong. Eric Yap at Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo.
“For years, since the passage of the juvenile justice system, we have simply overlooked the growing problems of our youngsters that are in conflict with the law. We do not have the facility or facilities to house these youths,” ayon kay Tulfo sa pahayag.
Ayon kay Tulfo na dating kalihim ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), walang sapat na pasilidad ang naturang ahensya para sa mga menor de edad na lumalabag sa batas.
“What they have are shelters for victims of abuse. Because we do not have a place for young offenders, they are often confined in one complex with their victims, unfortunately,” dagdag ni Tulfo.
“We have to address the problem immediately, we need a facility where juveniles can spend time in formal education or vocational training, values formation, household work, and sports activities as they serve their time, yet their loved ones can visit them during the weekends,” giit pa ng mambabatas.
Sinabi sa panukalang batas na bagaman ilang Bahay Pag-asa ang naitayo na sa buong bansa, kulang na kulang pa rin ang mga pasilidad o kanlungan ng mga batang nagkasala sa batas.
“It is imperative to establish additional Bahay Pag-asa to ensure that the best interests of children in conflict with the law are met,” ayon sa mga mambabatas.
“By providing sufficient and properly equipped youth detention centers, we can create a conducive environment for the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders into society,” giit pa nito.
Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, bukod sa mga kasalukuyang House of Hope, o ‘Bahay Pag-Asa’ na tinukoy sa Republic Act 10630 o ang Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006, ang DSWD, sa pakikipagtulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan at Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), ay dapat magtatag, magpatakbo, at mangasiwa ng isang karagdagang ‘Bahay Pag-asa’ sa bawat probinsya at highly urbanized city sa kanilang
nasasakupan.
Ang mga pasilidad ay pamamahalaan, papatakbuhin at pangangasiwaan ng DSWD at ng nakakasakop na LGUs.
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