By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Government has earmarked P108 million for the construction of a separate Bahay Pag-asa center for girls, which will serve as a secure rehabilitation facility for female Children in Conflict with the Law and Children at Risk.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod and approved in June 2026, seeks to provide girls with a safe place to access rehabilitation services, counseling, education, healthcare, and other support programs while their cases are being processed.
According to the councilor, the proposed facility follows the passage of City Ordinance No. 0273-26, the Bahay Pag-asa for Girls Programs, by the 21st City Council, which provides for a separate facility for female CICL and CAR.
The amount will be sourced from the city’s share of revenues from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The allocation was approved through a resolution by Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, following a request from Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
Dayanghirang said on his official Facebook page that the project seeks to address a critical gap in the city’s social protection system, noting that the existing Bahay Pag-asa facility operated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office currently caters only to male CICL and CAR.
“The existing infrastructure exclusively houses male Children in Conflict with the Law and Children at Risk, leaving a need for a separate environment that addresses the unique rehabilitation, welfare, and security requirements of female minors,” Dayanghirang said.
According to the city officials, the new building will provide a secure and supportive environment for female minors awaiting court disposition, while offering programs focused on rehabilitation, healing, and personal development.
The project is also in line with Section 49 of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which requires highly urbanized cities to establish and operate Bahay Pag-asa centers that meet national standards.
Mayor Duterte said the project shows the city government’s dedication to protecting and supporting young women who need care, guidance, and rehabilitation.
Once completed, the Bahay Pag-asa for Girls facility is expected to improve Davao City’s juvenile welfare services and help female minors rebuild their lives and successfully return to their communities.
