First Bahay Pag-Asa Center for CICL in Bicol Region soon to rise in Camarines Norte

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) signed yesterday a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Province of Camarines Norte for the construction of a Bahay Pag-Asa Center, the first for Bicol Region.

Bahay Pag-Asa is a 24-hour child-caring institution established, funded, and managed by the local government units (LGUs)  providing residential care for children in conflict with the law (CICL).  Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 mandates the construction of Bahay Pag-Asa in 81 provinces and 33 highly urbanized cities in the country.

Under the agreement, some P10 million has been allocated by the national government, lodged under the JJWC, for the construction of the Bahay Pag-Asa in the region to be called Center for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in Camarines Norte.

The provincial government, in turn, will provide P5 million in counterpart funding and make available a 10,000 square-meter lot for the Bahay Pag-Asa. Furthermore, it will ensure the needed logistical and manpower requirements for the operationalization and maintenance of the center.

The DPWH, on the other hand, will construct the Bahay Pag-Asa, accepting full responsibility for the disbursement and utilization of the fund.

JJWC noted that Camarines Norte was selected for the P10M Bahay Pag-Asa construction project as the provincial government has a Comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Program (CLJIP).

Council members who are present in the agreement signing were Undersecretary Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra (National Youth Commission), Undersecretary Alberto Muyot (Department of Education), Assistant Secretary Hope Hervilla (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Atty. Marijoy Segui (Council for the Welfare of Children), and Commissioner Leah Armamento (Commission on Human Rights).

DSWD Assistant Secretary and JJWC Chairperson Hope Hervilla, said,  “This will serve as a milestone not only for the local government of Camarines Norte but most especially for CICL who will benefit from the facility.  The Bahay Pag-Asa shows our commitment to care for all the youth, even the CICL, and to give them the opportunity to be better citizens.”

To date,  36 Bahay Pag-Asa are operational nationwide.  These are in:

REGION CAR

Province of Abra Bahay Pag-Asa
Hingyon Bahay Pag-Asa
Province of Kalinga Bahay Pag-Asa

REGION NCR

Bahay Aruga – Bahay Pag-Asa
Bahay Pag-Asa ng Valenzuela City
Marikina Bahay Pag-Asa
Makati Youth Home
Bahay Pag-Asa Youth Development Center

REGION I

Urdaneta City Bahay Pag-Asa
Youth Home – Candon City

REGION II

Bahay Pag-Asa Center – Transition and Rehabilitation Home for Disadvantage Children- Cauayan City
Balay Namnama Youth Home for Boys-Santiago City

REGION III

Bahay Pag-Asa in Talavera, Nueva Ecija
Bahay Pag-Asa in San Jose, Nueva Ecija

REGION IV-A

Bahay Pag-Asa, Calauan, Laguna
Halfway Home, Bacoor City
Bahay Pag-Asa De La Salle, Dasmarinas City
Bahay Pag-Asa, Dasmarinas City
BBE-DASAL KA, Inc. Antipolo City
Second Chance Home, Calamba City
Bahay Pag-Asa Tanauan City, Batangas
Bahay Kalinga, Imus City

REGION MIMAROPA

Bahay Pag-Asa Youth Center

REGION VI

Balay Dalangpan, Mina, Iloilo
Bahay Pag-Asa – Victorias City
Balay Dalayunan
USLS Bahay Pag-Asa Inc., Bacolod City

REGION VIII

Bahay Pag-Asa of Biliran

REGION X

Bahay Pag-Asa, Patpat, Claveria, Misamis Oriental
Bahay Pag-Asa, Basirang, Tudela, Misamis Occidental

REGION XI

Children’s Village of Davao City  – Davao City
Bahay Pag-asa (A Transition & Rehabilitation Home for Disadvantaged Children), Sta. Maria, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province
Bahay Pag-Asa Youth Home – Mati City
Bahay Pag-Asa – Davao del Norte

REGION CARAGA

Bahay Pag-Asa – Surigao City
Bahay Pag-Asa, Tubay, Agusan Del Norte

###