Cebu City-run rehab center for minors: No more wards from outside

CEBU, Philippines - Starting next year, the Cebu City government will stop accepting minor offenders from neighboring local government units in its city-run Operation Second Chance Center.

In a letter written last November 3, Mayor Tomas Osmeña informed chief executives of different LGUs that the city will only be catering to minor offenders from Cebu City.

"With deep regret, we wish to inform that effective January 2017, OSCC will only be accepting minor offenders from Cebu City," Osmeña's letter read.

The mayor sent the letters to the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Mandaue, Carcar, Toledo, Consolacion and the municipalities of Minglanilla, Barili, San Remigio, Badian, Alcantara, Liloan, Cordova. Executive judges of the respective LGUs were also furnished copies of the letter.

Lea Japson, head of the City's Department of Social Welfare and Services, said the center now has 210 minor offenders. However, only 100 of that number are from Cebu City and the rest are from other LGUs.

The bulk of the offenders from other LGUs are from Mandaue City with at least 30 children.

"I already have sent letters to other mayors. About half of our occupants at OSC are not from Cebu City," Osmeña said.

In Osmeña's letter, he also explained that the facility was originally designed for 200 wards, but he said the center is now serving beyond its capacity.

With the "overcrowded" facility, Osmeña said the center is encountering problems like the spread of viral diseases.

He said last October, children in 20 wards got sick because of a viral infection.

"The OSCC has since then accommodated minor offenders who were committed by the court from other LGUs. But while the Cebu City Government is doing its best to cope with the situation, it severely lacks social workers, vehicles to transport the minors to their court hearings, food and other supplies," he said.

Osmeña said the facility has been serving other LGUs for ten years.

Next year, the city government wants to prioritize children from Cebu City only.

"It is in this light that the Cebu City Government would like to seek the understanding of other LGUs as well as the kind consideration of the judges of the Regional Trial Courts," he said.

The facility was established even before the enactment of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Law, the mayor noted.

It is aimed at saving minor offenders from being detained with hardened criminals at the Cebu City Jail.

Further, Osmeña said guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, who are currently guarding the facility, will be pulling out from the center.

"Judges just assign them to Cebu City. And BJMP cannot say no to a judge. So now BJMP is moving out. So now the city is taking over," he said.

However, Japson said she has asked BJMP to extend the stay of the guards until the city government allocates a budget for the hiring of their own security personnel for the facility.

Japson said she will meet members of the City Council's committee on budget and finance, headed by City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, to add at least P5.7 million to the proposed P8.7 million budget for next year so that they can hire security personnel and social workers.

Japson further said the facility can ideally accommodate at least 100 children, but she said the city can only accommodate 150 in all so that no social services inside the facility will be compromised.

She said the city officials have already discussed its concerns to the judges so that they will refrain from referring minor offenders from other LGUs to Operation Second Chance.

"Mahibaw-an ni next year and hopefully ma-implement g'yud ni," she said.

If the LGUs have no facility to house their minor offenders, Japson suggested them to pay for their stay at Operation Second Chance.

"Among gi-plan pod nga mobayad lang sila. Sa among budget, naay at least P2,600 to P3,000 per month for one child nga maka-stay sa center. As of now, ang Mandaue City, having the highest number of minor offenders nga gikan sa other LGUs, they are giving sacks of rice and mga canned goods. But mas maayong standardized," she said.

Japson said the city government will also renovate the facility and expand it in the future. (FREEMAN)