By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Four minors who had previously figured in criminal offenses have been successfully reintegrated into their families and the education system after completing a comprehensive rehabilitation program of the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW).
MDSW Director Jay Reyes Dela Fuente said the beneficiaries, all boys aged 14 and 15, underwent several months of counseling, behavioral intervention, and values formation at the Manila Boystown Complex in Marikina City after being referred to the agency for separate cases involving theft and public disturbance.
With the intervention program completed, the youths were formally released into the custody of their parents and guardians under the supervision of the MDSW.
The city government also coordinated with educational institutions to ensure the minors could resume their studies, allowing them to continue their education and pursue a more positive future.
To support their reintegration into society, the MDSW also provided livelihood capital assistance to their families, giving them resources to improve their economic condition and reduce the likelihood that the children would return to unlawful activities.
Dela Fuente said the initiative reflects the Manila City government’s commitment to restorative justice by focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment for young offenders.
He added that the program is anchored on “Serbisyong Yorme, Lahat May Pag-asa at Pagkakataon,” an initiative that seeks to provide children in conflict with the law a genuine second chance through education, family support, and community-based reintegration.
According to the MDSW, the city’s intervention program recognizes that juvenile offenders can become productive citizens when provided with proper guidance, counseling, and opportunities to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment.
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