RATIONALE

A child can continue to grow at a steady pace. Its final growth spurt begins at the start
of puberty between ages 9 and 15, wherein nourishment needs to correspond with changes in
growth rates if appropriately given by their healthcare providers. If so, each child can advance
skills that may vary widely in physical, language, emotional, social and alike. Contrary to
popular belief, children who are unable to express themselves well may be more likely to
have aggressive behavior or temper tantrums. Imagine these needs are not satisfied by the
providers because of a lack of awareness toward their child’s thinking, expression, feelings,
perceptions, values, desires, interests, and personality as well as their self-concept, self-
image, and self-esteem (NLM, 2007).
 
Since then, children have learned to commit crime from exposure to anti-social
definitions. Criminal behavior is a by-product of interacting with others. It is a function of the
learning process that could affect any individual in any culture. The process of learning
criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the
mechanisms that are involved in any other learning process. Environment stimulation from
parents, relatives, social contacts, schools, peer groups, and innumerable others creates a
child’s IQ level and that low IQ results from an environment that also encourages delinquent
and criminal behavior. Thus, if low IQ scores are recorded among criminals, these scores
may reflect the criminal’s cultural background, not their mental ability. The environment where
children are raised, the experiences they encounter, and the people that are around them
influence and determine who they will end up being. Environmental factors determine who an
individual will become in the future. Environmental factors include style of parenting, exposure
to early schooling, home exposure, eating habits, and interaction with those around the
children. It has therefore been stated that the way a parent nurtures a child determines how
the child develops (Plomin & Spinath, 2004).
 
In the year 2018, in the city of General Santos,Police authorities have implemented
clearing operations in 26 barangays following reports that four children being used by local
drug syndicates to sell illegal drugs were killed in separate incidents in a week. Children-In-
Conflict with the Law (CICL) have increased their numbers from 3,000 in 2017 to 4,000 in
2018 and reported that many of the recruited minors were using and selling
methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, also known as the poor man’s cocaine. Most of
the reports of minors in the police blotter showed, upon verification, that they were really
adults. This reported 3,000 number that increased to 4,000 CICL was just an estimated figure
of the police. We believe many of those classified as children were really adults (Batilong,
2018).
 
With this, we are proposing this project to help CICL members avoid using illegal
drugs and committing crimes. If this issue is not addressed, it might lead to a more serious
conflict, which is now continuously happening. The possible solution we have made is that we
will be conducting a one-day event in Purok Ondok Gawan, Brgy. San Jose, General Santos
City. There will be a program where they will be assisted and taught how to properly use
technology and social media platforms, especially Facebook and YouTube. Rather than
spending most of their time on their groups, they will instead be taught to introduce their
community by travel vlogging. Through this, their abilities and talents will be highlighted,
which will boost their confidence because of the attention and support they will receive from
the public.
 
The Ktanak na Kakdo project will help the community of General Santos City,
particularly the CICL of Purok Ondok Gawan, Barangay San Jose, General Santos City, in
promoting peace, love, and awareness to all CICL and non-CICL. Through this project, we
can give opportunities and appreciation to the CICL to give them life in peace and tranquility,
which is far from using illegal drugs.
Personal Context

There are still a lot of cases regarding CICL that have become a problem for us
because of the many troubles they have caused. There are also many reports that CICL is
involved in illegal drugs, which is the reason for the increase in crime and violence, such as
vandalism, robbery, and kidnapping, in our community. And we cannot deny the fact that they
are somehow rehabilitated, but that is still not enough to suppress the atrocities committed by
them. CICL should be treated as individuals with problems who need help, not as criminals.
That’s why it is important for us to address this issue because we want to help CICL by
assisting them in countering the use of illegal drugs.

Main Problem

CICL is becoming braver and delving into more serious crimes. The Juvenile Justice
law, however, seemed to fail in curbing the number of children getting involved in crimes.
Children at risk or children in conflict with the law are more vulnerable to human-rights abuse.
Worse, those involved in petty and even serious crimes are getting younger and younger. In
General Santos City, Children-in-Conflict with the Law (CICL) increased their numbers from
3,000 in 2017 to 4,000 CICL in 2018. Four children being used by local drug syndicates were
killed in separate incidents in a week. Most of the reports of minors in the police blotter
showed, upon verification, that they were really adults. Many of the recruited minors were
selling methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.

Reference:

Personology Research & Development Center, Inc.[PRDC] (2001) Purkey, W. (1988). An

Overview of Self-Concept Theory for Counselors. ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and
Personnel Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. (An ERIC/CAPS Digest: ED304630)

Plomin, R., & Spinath, F. M. (2004). Intelligence: Genetics, Genes, and Genomics.  Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 86(1), 112–129. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-
3514.86.1.112

Batilong, A. (2018, April 16). Police crack down on 26 Gensan barangays with drug-selling
kids.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/04/16/police-crack-down-on-26-gensan-barangays-with-
drug-selling-kids/