.. 
Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
ILANG taon sapol nang sumipa ang implementasyon ng Juvenile Justice System, nananatiling kapos ang tugon ng pamahalaan sa kalagayan ng tinaguriang ‘young offenders.’
Para kay House Deputy Majority Leader at ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, higgit na angkop magkaroon ng maayos na pasilidad sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa para sa mga tinatawag na ‘children in conflict with the law.’
“For years, since the passage of the juvenile justice system, we have simply overlooked
the growing problems of our youngsters that are in conflict with the law. We do not have the facility or facilities to house these youths,” pahayag ni Tulfo.
Ayon kay Tulfo, na minsang nagsilbing Kalihim ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), walang sapat na pasilidad ang naturang ahensya para sa mga menor de edad na lumalabag sa batas.
“What they have are shelters for victims of abuse. Because we do not have a place for young offenders, they are often confined in one complex with their victims, unfortunately,” dagdag pa niya.
“We have to address the problem immediately, we need a facility where juveniles can spend time in formal education or vocational training, values formation, household work, and sports activities as they serve their time, yet their loved ones can visit them during the weekends,” aniya pa.
Bilang tugon, inihain ni Tulfo at mga kasamahan mula sa ACT-CIS partylist na sina Reps. Edvic Yap at Jocelyn Tulfo; Benguet Cong. Eric Yap at Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo, ang House Bill 10276 (An Act Establishing Additional Houses of Hope for Children in Conflict with the Law).
Sa ilalim ng naturang panukala, target palawakin at pagsasaayos ng Bahay Pag-asa sa mas maraming lugar sa bansa.
“It is imperative to establish additional Bahay Pag-asa to ensure that the best interests of children in conflict with the law are met,” nagkakaisang pahayag ng mga kongresista.
“By providing sufficient and properly equipped youth detention centers, we can create a conducive environment for the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders into society,” anila pa.
Bukod sa mga kasalukuyang House of Hope, o ‘Bahay Pag-Asa’ na tinukoy sa Republic Act 10630 (Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006), isinusulong din ng HB 10276 na ang DSWD, sa pakikipagtulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan at Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), ang pagtatatag operasyon at pangangasiwa ng isang karagdagang Bahay Pag-asa sa bawat probinsya at nasasakupang highly urbanized city.
