Youth Home project's first phase – call for support

Bacolod City has been striving to support the children and youth in conflict with the law for the interest of the whole community. The Ordinance no.566, dated from November 16, 2011, planned the building of a rehabilitation center for juvenile delinquents in Bacolod City. This decision was initiated by the Republic Act no.8369, “Family Courts Act of 1997”, and the Republic Act no.9344, “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006”, which require local governments to provide the children in conflict with a law with a specific detention and rehabilitation center, separated from the facilities for adult delinquents.

In 2012, Bacolod City selected the construction site dedicated for the Youth Home, located in the Vista Alegre-Granada district. The ground breaking ceremony was held last August by the city representatives with the participation of partners and members of local communities.

The assessment and planning of the Youth Home project has been conducted by city officers along with Virlanie-Bacolod volunteers. This initial phase enabled to specify how the children in conflict with the law will be cared for at the rehabilitation center. Maximum capacity has been agreed to 100 children and the construction plan will integrate the development of renewable energies.

The project has been divided into three main phases: the first one will start very soon with the construction of the first dormittory, a well, a windmill, a water tank, a septic tank and solar panels. The city allocated a budget of PHP 4 Million (Euros 75,000). The public call for bids has been opened in February and the construction is to start in March.

Through the social and professional rehabilitation services, to be provided to young people suffering from critical social issues, the city is sending a strong message of hope to the most disadvantaged communities. The local authorities are willing to dedicate actual and relevant measures in order to assist the communities facing problems often caused by a fast economic development of middle-range to big cities. Bacolod City indeed attracts many migrants from the most remote areas of the province of Negros Occidental.

The Youth Home project will only be achieved if all the members of the local community are involved, i.e. the civil society along with public and private actors, and thanks to the significant support of international organizations and donors. HOST-NGO is currently looking for partners willing to support this project with financial, material or human resources, or also willing to share technical knowledge and skills. For further information, do not hesitate to contact HOST-NGO by email (contact@host-ngo.org) or visit the website (www.host-ngo.org).