At Your Service 24/7:

Surigao City’s Local Referral Network and Coordination System

We’re now in a world where almost everything we can get in an instant. From our food to
our Internet connection, we want everything fast. How much more when it comes to saving a
child from further harm and conflict?

The City of Surigao—like any fast developing city in the country—strives to achieve
quality of life for its constituents. However, they are no exception to the hurdles that
go with this pursuit. The city is beset with social problems affecting children and the
youth. One of these issues is the increase of cases of street children, teenage
pregnancies and early marriages, juvenile drug use, and children at risk and children
in conflict with law (CAR/CICL).

While the city government has been implementing programs and services for
children even before the enactment of RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act of 2006, there has been an influx of CAR/CICL cases in the locality.

Response – The Surigao City Way

Various programs in the locality have been formulated and implemented to accost
the problem of juvenile delinquency. One of the strategies in addressing this issue is
the response designed by the Surigao City Crisis Center that features a special eight-
week program for first time offenders. This response also allowed resources from
various government agencies and the civil societies to be mobilized to help instill
positive values upon CAR/CICL and expose them to volunteer work instead.

Aside from this effort, a training program was also conducted at the community
level to enhance parenting skills for parents and guardians of CAR/CICL.

The Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) has taken an active role
in community-based interventions and diversion programs for CAR/CICL. In 2013,
the Bahay Pag-asa, a transition home for CAR/CICL, was established to provide a
facility for children charged with serious offenses and whose cases are still pending
in court.

While this problem has become a social phenomenon at a nationwide scale, the city
government is committed to accomplish every effort to mobilize all sectors to
generate and complement resources to address this problem.

Going Beyond What is Required

The Comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Plan (CLJIP) of the City of Surigao is
a manifestation of the commitment of the City Government of Surigao towards
juvenile justice and welfare.

The CLJIP serves as a statement of the responsibilities of stakeholders and duty-

bearers in providing enhanced programs and services that guarantee development
and protection for all children toward the end of preventing conditions that place
children at risk of being in conflict with the law.

It also includes remedial measures that provide children in conflict with the law
with ample opportunities for diversion and conduct modification in the community
and set them to become responsible and contributing citizens in the future.

Each local government unit is mandated to employ one registered Social Worker.
But the Surigao City Social Welfare and Development Office boasts about its seven
registered/licensed social workers, four of which are handling community-based
programs and services (one in every district), while the rest are assigned in centers
catering to institution and center-based programs and services. One is performing
supervisory function and another one is doing administration support.

Referral Networking proves to be the most effective management system in

handling cases of CAR/CICL. Two (2) of the registered workers are assigned at the
Surigao Crisis Center handling the determination of discernment for cases of 15 to 18
years old as required by RA 9344 and will assist in the conduct of intervention or
diversion programs.

For duty-bearers, availability 24/7 is a must. Children caught anytime are

immediately given utmost attention by the duty-bearers. The law enforcement
officer or LEO will contact the district coordinator to give speedy assistance to the
CICL or CAR. A duty-bearer is available even during weekends and holidays to
ensure expedite responsiveness to the CICL or CAR.

The high case of CAR/CICL is lessened due to the positive, instant response of the
duty bearers and the line agencies involved in the program.

If local government units are serious about addressing CAR/CICL cases, they
should ensure that they go beyond what is basic and easy. The key behind all of
these is strong political will from the local officials to allocate significant amount of
funds to hire more social workers who will handle children’s welfare.

Response to CAR/CICL cases does not need to take so long. It just takes one quick
and sure action.