The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) calls for full functionality of the Barangay Council for the Protection for Children (BCPC) as deemed necessary manifested in the current viral video of a female minor with a stone who threatens a motorist along C5 road which is a following issue of minors who are recklessly throwing stones along the same road.

Under the Presidential Decree No. 603 article 87, every barangay council shall encourage the organization of a local Council for the Protection of Children and shall coordinate with the Council for the Welfare of Children and Youth in drawing and implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare. Membership shall be taken from responsible members of the community including a representative of the youth, as well as representatives of government and private agencies concerned with the welfare of children and youth whose area of assignment includes the particular barangay and shall be on a purely voluntary basis.

In this, among the responsibilities of the BCPC are:

(1) Foster the education of every child in the barangay;

(2) Encourage the proper performance of the duties of parents, and provide learning opportunities on the adequate rearing of children and on positive parent-child relationship;

(3) Protect and assist abandoned or maltreated children and dependents;

(4) Take steps to prevent juvenile delinquency and assist parents of children with behavioral problems so that they can get expert advise;

(5) Adopt measures for the health of children;

(6) Promote the opening and maintenance of playgrounds and day-care centers and other services that are necessary for child and youth welfare;

(7) Coordinate the activities of organizations devoted to the welfare of children and secure their cooperation;

(8) Promote wholesome entertainment in the community, especially in movie houses; and

(9) Assist parents, whenever necessary in securing expert guidance counseling from the proper governmental or private welfare agency.

“These children have no civil liability under the Juvenile Justice System and should be rehabilitated if necessary. However, their civil liabilities may be transferred to their parents since they are the one responsible for nurturing and supervising the activities of their children,” said DSWD-NCR Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson.

Director Leyson also emphasized that if BCPCs are actively functioning, such cases involving delinquent doing of minors will be addressed and prevented in the Barangay level as first responder of their respective covered areas.

Meanwhile, in coordination with LGUs, the Department continuously conducts reach-out operations to families and individuals on the street which were reported via phone call, walk-in or through the @savestreetkids twitter account of DSWD-NCR.

In said operation, the social worker of DSWD upon receipt of the report first validates it with the concerned LGU/ barangay. After this, the social worker will proceed in the area with the assistance of barangay officials.

If the client was validated to be an original resident of the nearby provinces, he/she will be provided with transportation assistance under the “Balik-probinsya” of the Department with a written agreement that they shall not go back to Metro Manila and dwell on the streets again.

On the case of the child client, the social worker will return the minor to his/her house and will provided counselling to the parents with a written agreement that they shall not let their child go back to street again.

Further, if the written agreement was violated in the case of the reached out child, he/she will be temporarily rehabilitated in the DSWD/ LGU’s center for a certain period of time depending on the assessment conducted by the designated social worker.### (DSWD-NCR Social Marketing Office, March 14, 2016)