Covenant for Holistic Program Addressing Children’s Issues in Cebu Signed

PIA — A covenant for the enforcement of a unified and wholistic approach to the issues on Children at Risk (CAR) and Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) was signed today by over 20 private and public stakeholders in the city.

The covenant already include the holding of a monthly rescue operation for CAR and CICL in different areas of the city.

Another unique factor with the covenant is the inclusion of parents of affected children.

The covenant was signed this morning after the flag raising ceremony at Camp Sotero Cabahug.

According to the covenant, statistics show that minor offenders and minor victims are increasing in number, prompting stakeholders to address the situation.

Police Inspector Arieza Otida, chief of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Family Gender Juvenile Section (FGJS), said the covenant already drafts the unified and wholistic plan which is presented to incoming leaders of Cebu City.

“It is unified because we have the cooperation of most groups, private and public and wholistic because we attempt to address different phases from root cause, to shelter to reintegration,” Otida said.

Otida said she was already able to present the draft to Acting City Mayor Margot Osmena who will be replaced by her husband, elected Mayor Tomas Osmena, in July.

There are three parts of the plan dubbed as “Cebu City’s Operation sa Gugma”, namely: Prevention, Diversion or Intervention, and Reintegration.

Shelter or Placement of the CAR or CICL comes between Prevention and Diversion or Reintegration.

Under the Prevention are agencies CCPO, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) and the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) of the city, Task Force Street Children, Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), Dilaab Movement, Zonta Club 2, Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW INC), City Prosecutors Office (CPO), and Lions Club International (LCI).

The rescued children are brought to Parian Drop In Center for evaluation and placement.

“The Task Force Street Children will accommodate a maximum of 35 children at risk, while Philippine Teen Challenge can accommodate at least 10 children in conflict with the law,” according to the covenant.

CCPO will provide three duty details for both shelter organizations while DSWD and DSWS will shoulder the food and other necessities.

Don Bosco Boys Home, Zonta Club , CLB, PIA Cebu , CPO, LAW Inc, Pink Room Center, DILAAB Foundation, WCPD-CCPO, Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, Task Force for Street Children and Rotary Club of Cebu will facilitate in the different Prevention, Intervention, and Diversion Programs for the rescued children.

Reintegration will also happen in these shelters.

CLB will assist in the legal aspect of the child and once he or she is reintegrated, and there will be close monitoring by DSWD.

“This is the first time that more representatives, organizations are pledging their support for the same cause, happy to include the parents into the system,” according to Police Superintendent Artemio Recabo, who spoke in behalf of CCPO director Police Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos.

It was noted that 90 percent of the rescued children have problems in the family and most of them turn into CICL if not given the proper intervention. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)