Photo courtesy of PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The provincial government here is scouting for a property to establish the Bahay Pag-Asa for children in conflict with the law (CICL) in Antique.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer-in-charge Careen Panaguiton said Antique has 37 CICLs. Two have been referred to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Guimaras because of their suspended sentences due to murder.
Those with suspended sentences are found guilty of an offense, but instead of jail imprisonment, since they are minors, they are sent to a center managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to undergo a rehabilitation program.
“It would be nice if there is a Bahay Pag-Asa in Antique so that children with suspended sentences will no longer be brought to the DSWD-RRCY,” she said.
She said that with the Bahay Pag-Asa in Antique, social workers will have a chance to manage not only the CICL but also their parents.
“Most of the CICLs are from dysfunctional families, so there is also a need to case manage their parents,” she added.
Meanwhile, this capital town, San Jose de Buenavista, will renovate its old building and convert it into Bahay Pag-Asa to accommodate CICL with suspended sentences. (PNA)