The court shall impose the appropriate disposition measures in consideration of the various

circumstances of the CICL. Upon recommendation of the social worker who has custody of the child, the
court

shall dismiss the case if it finds that the objectives of the disposition measures have been fulfilled.

F. Confinement of Convicted Children in Agricultural Camps and Training Facilities

After conviction and upon order of the court to serve his/her sentence, a CICL may in lieu of
confinement in a regular penal institution, serve in an agricultural camp and other training facilities that
may be

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164TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE

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supervised by the Bureau of Correction, in coordination with the DSWD.

G. Competent Authority

Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving children in conflict with the law.
Jurisdiction is vested with Regional Trial Courts in places where there are no family courts.

V. THE PHILIPPINES’ INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT OF CICL

Republic Act No. 10630 or the Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System provided for the
establishment of an Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center for children (IJISC) under the
minimum

age of criminal responsibility in “Bahay Pag-asa”.

The “Bahay Pag-asa” is a 24-hour child-care institution funded and managed by local government units

(LGU) and licensed and/or accredited non-government organizations. Children in conflict with the law
who

are 15 to 18 years old shall be housed in these temporary shelters while awaiting trial and the
judgement

to be rendered by the courts.

The law also clarified procedures for children below the minimum age if criminal responsibility,

including those who commit serious offences. It provides that any child aged 12 to 15 who commits a

serious offence punishable by more than 12 years’ imprisonment should be deemed a neglected child
under

the Child and Youth Welfare Code. As a neglected child, the minor should be placed in the IJISC. The

same is true with a child who was previously subjected to a community-based intervention programme.
He shall also be deemed a neglected child and as such shall undergo an intensive intervention
programme

supervised by the LSWDO. The child will undergo appropriate intervention programmes through the

written authorization for voluntary commitment of the child as executed by the parents or guardians or

through a petition in the court for the involuntary confinement filed by the LSWDO or DSWD.

The “Bahay Pag-asa” will be managed by a multi-disciplinary team composed of a social worker, a
psychologist/mental health professional, a medical doctor, an educational guidance counsellor, and a
member

of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). They will come up with individualized
intervention plan for the child and his/her family.

Based on the recommendation of the multi-disciplinary team of the IJISC, the LSWDO or the DSWD,

the court may require the parents of the CICL to undergo counselling or any other intervention that

would advance the best interest of the child.

VI. THE PHILIPPINES’ COMMUNITY-BASED (NON-INSTITUTIONAL)

TREATMENT OF CICL

A. Who can avail?

One of the disposition measures that can be availed of by a CICL under suspended sentence is
Community-based Rehabilitation wherein he/she shall be released to parents, guardians, relatives or
any other responsible person in the community. The LSWDO shall supervise the CICL in coordination
with his/her

parents/guardian. Examples of these programmes are: competency and life skills development; socio-
cultural and recreational activities; community volunteer projects; leadership training; spiritual
enrichment;

and, family welfare services.

A child under the minimum age of criminal responsibility shall also be subjected to a community-based

intervention programme supervised by the LSWDO.

B. Cooperation between Community-based Treatment and Institutional Treatment

If the best interest of the c