Iloilo Balay Pagbag-o named top 5 youth facility

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Balay Pagbag-o, a youth rehabilitation center managed by the Iloilo provincial government, has been named one of the Top 5 finalists in the national Search for Bahay Pag-Asa Good Practices by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC).

The recognition follows an ongoing onsite validation by the JJWC National Awards Committee – Technical Working Group (NAC-TWG), which is conducting assessments from Sept. 10 to 13, 2025.

As part of the visit, the validation team paid a courtesy call on Provincial Administrator Raul Banias on Wednesday at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

The NAC-TWG team includes team leader Rubella Ongbit, along with Camille Rose Ignacio, Anna Karla Villanueva, Lonelyn Bonifacio, and Atty. Janicka Paragados from the Department of Education.

Also known as Bahay Pag-Asa, Balay Pagbag-o provides short-term residential care for male children in conflict with the law (CICL) aged 15 to 17 who are awaiting court resolution or transfer to appropriate government agencies.

The facility offers a comprehensive range of rehabilitation and reintegration services designed to support the youth’s development and well-being.

These services include case management, family-centered support, homelife and health care, faith-based and values formation programs, educational and developmental services, livelihood and entrepreneurship training, psychosocial interventions, and recreational and cultural activities.

Operated as part of the province’s commitment to restorative justice and child protection, Balay Pagbag-o continues to serve as a model for local government unit-managed youth care centers.