Barangays and NGOs commended on best practices on juvenile justice and welfare programs

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) awarded the winners of the Search for Good Practice of Barangays and Non-Government Organization (NGO) Partners Implementing the Diversion Program of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) on November 25, 2022 in Manila 

This year’s celebration carried the theme, “Pagbabago ay Panigurado kung Tututukan natin ang Juvenile Justice Law!” which calls for the strengthened implementation of the JJWA to ensure that the rights of children in conflict with the law (CICL) and children at risk (CAR) are upheld at all times.

The Search was part of the 11th Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week (JJWeek) which was held on November 20-26, 2022. It aimed to recognize the mechanisms and good practices of duty-bearers and stakeholders in implementing diversion programs, which is one of the key features of the JJWA, that provides alternative processes in determining the responsibility and treatment of CICLs without resorting to rehabilitation away from their families and undergoing formal court proceedings.

In the message of Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo, which was delivered by Undersecretary Charles Frederick Co, the DSWD executive recognized the efforts of the barangays and other stakeholders implementing the JJWA.

“Today’s event is a celebration of your efforts and the lives of children that you have helped changed for the better. We, at the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the JJWC commend your initiatives in fulfilling your mandates under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act,” he said.

“We recognize the challenges and gaps, and like you, we remain committed to find ways to strengthen the full and proper implementation of the law. This search is one of our strategies to advocate for and support the implementation of diversion. By packaging good practices, we create knowledge products that duty-bearers and stakeholders can learn from and encourage the full implementation of the law,” he added.

The following are the winners of this year’s Search for Good Practice of Barangays and NGO Partners Implementing the Diversion Program of the JJWA:

Barangay Category

• 1st Place – Brgy. Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet
• 2nd Place – Brgy. Kulapi, Lucban, Quezon
• 3rd Place – Brgy. Lomoyon, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao

Shortlisted entries under the Barangay Category: Brgy. Calumpang, Iloilo City and Brgy. Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet

Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) Category

• 1st Place – Brgy. Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo
• 2nd Place – Brgy. Camino Nuevo, Zamboanga City

NGOs in the Barangay doing Diversion Programs

• Quidan Kaisahan in Negros Occidental

Aside from the Search, the JJWC also conducted various activities during the JJWeek to advocate for the effective and efficient implementation of the JJWA. Among the events include: the handover of assistance kits to 84 Bahay Pag-Asas (BPA) as part of the Support to Bahay Pag-Asa Project; the launching of the Prosecutor’s Manual on Handling Cases of Children; the Ceremonial Signing-in of the Buklod Paglaom Learning Management System; and, the RJJWC Functionality Awarding Ceremony.

The DSWD and the JJWC commit to continue to enhance systems and mechanisms to improve the implementation of the JJWA in coordination with duty-bearers and other stakeholders. Content and (Journalonline)