RA 9344: Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006

Section 8. Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC). —

A Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) is hereby created and attached to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and placed under its administrative supervision. The JJWC shall be chaired by an Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It shall ensure the effective implementation of this Act and coordination among the following agencies:

  1. Department of Justice (DOJ);

  2. Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC);

  3. Department of Education (DepEd);

  4. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

  5. Public Attorney's Office (PAO);

  6. Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR);

  7. Parole and Probation Administration (PPA);

  8. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);

  9. Philippine National Police (PNP);

  10. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP);

  11. Commission on Human Rights (CHR);

  12. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);

  13. National Youth Commission (NYC); and

  14. Other institutions focused on juvenile justice and intervention programs.

The JJWC shall be composed of representatives, whose ranks shall not be lower than director, to be designated by the concerned heads of the following departments or agencies and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations:

  1. Department of Justice (DOJ);

  2. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);

  3. Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC);

  4. Department of Education (DepEd);

  5. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

  6. Commission on Human Rights (CHR);

  7. National Youth Commission (NYC);

  8. Two (2) representatives from NGOs, to be designated by the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, to be selected based on the criteria established by the Council;

  9. Department of Health (DOH); and

  10. One (1) representative each from the League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities and League of Barangays. aCIHcD

There shall be a Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) in each region. The RJJWCs will be under the administration and supervision of the JJWC. The RJJWC shall be chaired by the director of the regional office of the DSWD. It shall ensure the effective implementation of this Act at the regional and LGU levels and the coordination among its member agencies.

The RJJWC will be composed of permanent representatives who shall have a rank not lower than an assistant regional director or its equivalent to be designated by the concerned department heads from the following agencies and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations:

  1. Department of Justice (DOJ);

  2. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);

  3. Department of Education (DepEd);

  4. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

  5. Commission on Human Rights (CHR);

  6. Department of Health (DOH);

  7. Two (2) representatives from NGOs operating within the region selected by the RJJWC based on the criteria established by the JJWC;

  8. One (1) sectoral representative from the children or youth sector within the region; and

  9. One (1) representative from the League of Provinces/Cities/Municipalities/Barangays of the Philippines.

The JJWC shall convene within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity of this Act. The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the JJWC national secretariat and the RJJWC secretariat.

In the implementation of this Act, the JJWC shall consult with the various leagues of local government officials.

The JJWC shall coordinate with the Office of the Court Administrator and the Philippine Judicial Academy to ensure the realization of its mandate and the proper discharge of its duties and functions, as herein provided.