The first ever Bahay Pag-asa of BARMM located in Patikul, Sulu which will provide a home for children in conflict with the law. (Photo courtesy of MSSD)
PATIKUL, Sulu – In its commitment to provide social protection for children in conflict with the law (CICL) in the region, the Bangsamoro Government opened on its first-ever Bahay Pag-asa located in this town.
The construction of the two-storey building was made possible by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) with funding from Member of Parliament (MP) Raissa Jajurie’s Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF), and a 600-square-meter lot donation from Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.
MPW and the Office of MP Jajurie turned over the facility to the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) on Monday, November 20.
Valued at P22.86 million, the Bahay Pag-asa will function as a 24-hour child-caring facility providing temporary residential care for CICL aged above 15 and below 18 years old while their cases are awaiting court disposition.
Additionally, the MSSD also provided a multi-purpose vehicle to support the operations of the facility.
Through her message read by her Chief-of-Staff Acmad Macarimbang, MP Jajurie emphasized the urgent need for additional resources and infrastructure to address critical issues related to CICL.
“At present while we have children in conflict with the law in the Bangsamoro, the reality is that there are not enough facility that can house them and provide them with the necessary interventions and unique needs,” said Jajurie who is also the concurrent MSSD Minister.
“Children in conflict with the law are among the most vulnerable in our society. Even when these children run afoul of the law, they should not be treated like other suspects or convicted criminals and should not be placed in lock-up cell,” she added.
According to MSSD, it will continuously train local government units and other duty bearers on integrated care management protocols, diversion process, discernment, and intervention programs in handling CICL and children at risk cases.
In attendance during Monday’s turn-over ceremony were MSSD Deputy Minister Nur-Ainee Tan Lim, MPW Sulu’s 1st District Engineering Office Engr. Ajan Ajijul, and , Sulu Provincial Administrator Erwin Tan. (Alline Jamar M. Undikan/BIO)
