Bahay Pag-asa Davao del Norte, a transformation center that primarily caters to Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), is now accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Governor Anthony del Rosario received the Certificate of Accreditation for the facility from DSWD-XI Center Coordinator Dahlia Padillo during the 2nd founding anniversary of the center in New Corella, Davao del Norte on September 1, 2016.

Padillo said the accreditation will strengthen the role of the center, which is funded and managed by the provincial government, in providing short-term residential care to facilitate the restoration of the CICL and their reintegration to society.

"Kadtong certificate of accreditation mao to ang nagpamatuod nga atoang center, kini atong Bahay Pag-asa diri sa New Corella is accredited na to provide programs and services sa atoang mga target clientele kaning mga Children in Conflict with the Law [This certificate of accreditation proves that our center, Bahay Pag-asa in New Corella, is accredited to provide programs and services to our target clientele... the Children in Conflict with the Law]”, Padillo said.

He added that among the five rehabilitation centers catering to CICL in Region XI, only Bahay Pag-asa Davao del Norte received the accreditation, owing to its adequate staffing, well implementation of the rehab programs and sufficient budget allotment that sets it above the others.

“After the assessment, nakita nga ang Bahay Pag-asa Davao del Norte is well supported, well manned kay naa gyud tay klaro nga mga staff ug naa poy other staff sa province nga nagatutok pod sa ilaha in providing technical assistance para mapadayon ang pagserbisyo aning Bahay Pag-asa [After the assessment, they have seen that Bahay Pag-asa Davao del Norte is well supported, well manned because we have designated staff and there are other staff from the province that monitors and provides technical assistance to sustain the service],”  Padillo bared.

Del Rosario assured the sustainability of the facility, reiterating the responsibility of the province to reform children who went astray. “It is our responsibility to provide our children the opportunities they need for them to realize and actualize their full potential,” he said.

The certificate of accreditation is pursuant to Section 23 of Republic Act 4373, which requires social work agencies to be registered and accredited to regulate the operation and other purposes of such agencies.