DSWD Field Office VIII appeals to young people who compose the PAG-ASA Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in two occasions. Recenty, to mark the Juvenile Justice Consciousness Week, the Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Council thru social worker, Agnes Ergina- Bugal, organized a youth forum at the Youth Hub of the Tacloban City Government. In close partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the activity was attended by 40 PYAP leaders from the different barangays of Area 9 in Tacloban and also four barangay councilors of Barangay 70 of same city. Bugal, in orienting the youth on Republic Act 9344, as amended by Republic Act 10630, ( re : Children-In-Conflict-with-Law) told them – “the law is not for you to abuse but to protect you.” She emphasized as well that its goal is to prevent minors from entering the Juvenile Justice Welfare System. Even in serious crimes, children will not be jailed but will undergo a supervised intervention program in the community or placed in a rehabilitation center. DSWD has the so-called Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) at Barangay Sto. Nino in Tanauan, Leyte (for Region Eight), while provinces and highly-urbanized cities are mandated by law to put up its own. Under the law, such is called as BAHAY PAG-ASA. Last month, the RJJWC oriented more than 200 PYAP members from 24 municipalities of Northern Samar. Bugal said the idea is to tap the youth as advocates. RJJWC is an attached agency of the DSWD which is being chaired by DSWD Regional Director, Restituto Macuto.# #DSWDMayMalasakit #dswdserves