Since its organization on July 30, 2015, the Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (RJJWC) Tuesday, December 8, 2015 finally made its first visit to the Tacloban City Jail where reported are seven minors detained.

The Council, headed by Regional Director Nestor Ramos of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Eight, gathered the young people with their parents to discuss about their respective cases and plans of the elders once they get out of jail.

DSWD Field Office Eight Director Ramos said that the main concern of the Council is to ensure that the rights of these so –called Children-In-Conflict-With-Law (CICL) are protected, and that they are separated with adult criminals in jail. Mixing them will turn the minors to become hardened criminals, Ramos pointed out.

In said visit, it was found out that two of the children with suspended sentence will be transferred to the DSWD’s Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte next week. On the other hand, the five minors have their case studies already submitted to the courts.

The DSWD Field Office Eight distributed family food packs to the families while the Department of Health (DOH) Region Eight, water jugs and mosquito nets in said activity.

Meanwhile, DSWD Social Welfare Officer III, Agnes Bugal, bared that part of the functions of the newly-organized Council is to have a regular inspection in detention and rehabilitation facilities, and to undertake spot inspections in order to check compliance with standards.

The creation of the RJWWC is an offshoot of Republic Act 10630, or “An Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice in the Philippines, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”#