Fifteen Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) finished Senior High School (SHS) at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte on Sunday.

The class valedictorian encouraged his fellow SHS graduates, “Umahon tayo at hubugin ang saril ng magagandang asal at kaalaman. Pagkakataon nating patunayan na ang inaakala nilang salot sa lipunan ay pagasa pa la ng ating bayan at hindi dumi ng pamayanan.”

The first in-the-country formal Junior and Senior High School for CICL has opened inside the rehabilitation facility thanks to a tripartite agreement signed on July 23, 2020 between the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 8 (DSWD FO8), the Department of Education Leyte Division (DepEd Leyte Division), and the Local Government Unit of Tanauan.

By virtue of the agreement, the Tanauan School of Arts and Trade (TSAT) headed by the Dr. Dorcas Mejia opened the formal school in RRCY and conducted special classes for the residents inside the rehabilitation facility.

Meanwhile, 19 CICL completed Junior High School and will be promoted to SHS next school year.

One of the highlights was the ceremonial turnover to Eastern Visayas State University Tanauan Campus to ensure the graduates can pursue college education.

In her closing speech, RRCY Head Ms. Georgina Bulasa thank all partner government agencies, DSWD officials and staff, Tanauan LGU and stakeholders for making the in-Center formal education “A Dream Come True”.

The activity was attended by DSWD FO8 officials and staff headed by Regional Director Grace Subong; Former DSWD FO8 Assistant Regional Director and RRCY Head Marcela Lim; Regional Juvenile Justive and Welfare Council Head Agnes Bugal; TSAT Principal Dr. Dorcas Mejia and TSAT-RRCY faculty; Dr. Ramelito Paler of Head of Extension Services EVSU Tanauan Campus; Tacloban City Assistant Division Superintendent Dr. Edgar Tenasas, BJMP Superintendent Rill Sonon; Dr. Maurico Catan of DepEd Leyte, Retired Judge Ephraim Abando of Tanauan LGU; and some City/Municipal Social Work and Development Officers from different LGUs.