Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto led on Wednesday (January 15) the signing of the agreement for the implementation of the ‘Gabay’ Project or “Establishing the Community-Based Juvenile Intervention Facilitator System for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and Children at Risk (CAR).”

The two other signatories were Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) Deputy Executive Director Lilibeth Gallego, and A Child Trust is Ours to Nurture, Inc. (ACTION) Founder and President Hajime Yokota.

DSWD Undersecretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (ASAs) Emmeline Villar also signed the agreement, while Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna was also present to witness the event signing held at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

The project aims to enhance and strengthen the existing community-based intervention mechanism across the country and help improve the cohesiveness between the JJWC’s National Juvenile Intervention Program (CNJIP) with the local government units (LGUs).

The Gabay Project will be initially conducted in the cities of Malabon and Navotas in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Olongapo City in Region 3 (Central Luzon). (GDVF)