The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has partnered with a non-government organization and local government agencies to support a life skills development and rehabilitation project for Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL) in the Philippines.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic’s widening impact on disadvantaged children, JICA led the launching last week of the Project to Strengthen the Support Systems for Children in Residential Care Facilities and Communities in 11 Regions in the Philippines’ along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), and Japanese non-profit organization A Child’s Trust is Ours to Nurture (ACTION).

The Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 defines a CICL as a child who is alleged or found to have committed an offense and has not completed 18 years of age on the date of the commission of such offense.

With the surge in COVID-19 cases, the need for intervention mechanisms for CICL and other disadvantaged children staying in residential care facilities becomes more prominent to help them cope with the real world and reintegrate back to society.

Philippine government data showed that the DSWD is serving about 10, 000 CICL, mostly 14-17 years old coming from poverty-stricken families.

The JJWC data also showed that Bahay Pagasa or residential care facilities under LGUs are in need of life skills intervention activities as most are alternative learning and spiritual activities.

In a statement, JICA welcomed the initiative to promote the rehabilitation and development of children who need special protection.

“It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 outbreak changed our lives. No one has been spared from the pandemic, particularly the young people. Just as they are beginning to participate in the world, they had to face so many uncertainties now more than ever. They are worried about their future jobs, their mental well-being, and other vulnerabilities,” JICA Chief Representative Azukizawa Eigo said in a statement.

According to JICA, the project will develop life skills intervention toolkit for children, as well as train house parents and social workers on implementing life skills activities not only in the Philippines but also in Japanese centers.

Aside from this partnership to support vulnerable children in conflict with the law, JICA was also involved in the implementation of projects for the development of house parenting standards manual for residential care facilities in Central Luzon and other parts of the National Capital Region since 2012.