HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo and four other lawmakers filed a bill on Tuesday to establish additional facilities in every province of the country for delinquent minors or children in conflict with the law.
House Bill No. 10276, or “An Act Establishing Additional Houses of Hope for Children in Conflict with the Law,” was filed by Tulfo and his colleagues from the ACT-CIS partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo; Benguet Cong. Eric Yap and 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,” Tulfo said in a statement.
Tulfo, former secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), noted that the agency does not have enough facilities for minors in conflict with the law.
“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,” Tulfo added. “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,” Tulfo noted.
The bill said that while several Bahay Pag-asa have been established nationwide, many remain overcrowded and fail to meet the standards set for the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders.
“It is imperative to establish additional Bahay Pag-asa to ensure that the best interests of children in conflict with the law are met,” the lawmakers said.
“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,” it added.
Under the bill, in addition to the currently existing House of Hope, or ‘Bahay Pag-Asa’ as defined in Republic Act 10630 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006, the DSWD, in coordination with the local government and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), shall establish, operate, and maintain one additional ‘Bahay Pag-asa’ in each province and highly urbanized city within their respective jurisdiction. The facilities shall be managed, operated, and maintained jointly by the DSWD and the respective LGUs.
