18/08/2026
𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | 𝐑𝐉𝐉𝐖𝐂 𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬
The Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) VIII, together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VIII and partner agencies, conducted a three-day coordination and monitoring visit to custodial facilities and jails in Samar and Eastern Samar on August 12–14, 2026.
The activity covered the Municipal Police Stations (MPS) custodial facilities and Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPDs) in Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, and Paranas, Samar, as well as Can-avid, Dolores, Oras, and San Policarpo, Eastern Samar. The team also monitored the Dolores District Jail and the Borongan City Jail.
The monitoring aimed to strengthen the implementation of Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as amended, by assessing compliance with established standards and ensuring that the rights, protection, and welfare of children in conflict with the law (CICL) are upheld.
The activity also provided an opportunity to identify gaps and challenges encountered by duty-bearers, facilitate coordination among concerned agencies, and share recommendations toward improving the delivery of appropriate and child-sensitive interventions.
Representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ)–Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Plan International Philippines participated in the monitoring and coordination activities.
As part of the three-day engagement, a technical learning session on the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA)was also conducted in Jiabong, Samar. The session served as a venue for participating stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the law, discuss emerging concerns and challenges, and share good practices that can contribute to more responsive, coordinated, and child-sensitive interventions.
The committee also paid a courtesy and coordination visit to the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar to strengthen local collaboration and discuss initiatives and mechanisms that support the effective implementation of the JJWA at the provincial level.
Beyond monitoring compliance, the activity underscored the importance of shared responsibility and inter-agency collaboration in protecting children in conflict with the law. By bringing together government agencies and partners, RJJWC VIII continues to foster a juvenile justice system that does not only respond to violations but also recognizes every child's capacity for change, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community.
Through these collaborative efforts, RJJWC VIII and its partner agencies reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that the best interests of every child remain at the center of juvenile justice interventions—because every child deserves protection, guidance, and an opportunity to begin again.
