SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking budget support to expand the facilities of Bahay Pag-Asa, which provide short-term residential care for children in conflict with the law (CICL) aged 15 to 18.

“Kung hindi natin susuportahan ang Bahay Pag-Asa, the clamor to amend the law and lower the minimum age of criminal liability will definitely be louder. Yet, we don’t have a budget for Bahay Pag-Asa in 2026,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

While the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 or Republic Act No. 9344 mandates local government units to build Bahay Pag-Asa facilities, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian admitted that not all LGUs comply with the law.

The DSWD chief added that the agency is seeking an additional ₱700 million to fund more facilities—including separate rehabilitation centers for boys and girls, care facilities for former child combatants, and the construction of at least five shovel-ready Bahay Pag-Asa projects in different regions.

Aside from setting aside allocations for new facilities, Senator Gatchalian proposed a counterpart program where LGUs and the national government would share the cost of construction.