Juvenile center wants more funds

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Operation Second Chance Center in Barangay Kalunasan is asking for more funds to improve the facility and hire additional personnel.

Retired Col. Ceferino Tabay, CCOSCC head, said the P6 million annual budget for the juvenile center is not enough for the needed repairs of the facility and hiring of trained personnel who can handle Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL).

At present, CCOSCC only have two social workers serving as house parents for the 74 CICLs. Tabay said the rest are job order personnel from City Hall who does not have the proper training how to handle juvenile delinquents.

“Kinahanglan gyud ko kay kung mag-manage man gud ka sa imong personnel, least ra akong supervision nila kay they know what to do na kay na-trained man sila,” Tabay said.

“Kay sa atong wala pa na-train, kinahanglan man-to-man gyud nila ang paghatag og instruction og unsay buhaton. Kinahanglan mo-follow ta sa atong protocol in handling CICLs,” Tabay added.

Aside from trained personnel, Tabay said he also needs to repair and improve the building structures. This includes the rehabilitation of its perimeter fence, bathrooms, and septic tank.

He said a program of works and estimates for CCOSCC’s rehabilitation had already been prepared, but no definite date yet as to when the repairs will take place.

CCOSCC also needs funds to acquire new laptops that the CICLs need for communication to lessen boredom and prevent possible riots and escape attempts.

“Ang root cause anang maburyong ta kay kung wala gyu’y modalaw, kanang mingawon sila sa ilaha. In fact, usa na sa rason nganong mo-eskapo sila, kay maburyong sila,” Tabay said.

According to Tabay, most of the CICLs in the facility are facing drug charges. — (FREEMAN)