The Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) was conducted yesterday with key officials from the Albay local governments and DSWD Field Office V.

The RRCY of DSWD Field Office V will transfer to a bigger facility at Brgy. San Vicente, Oas, Albay once the new building is completed. This is through the partnership of the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Albay and DSWD.

“We would like to thank the PLGU of Albay through the leadership of Gov. Al Francis Bichara because we will transfer the RRCY to a convenient location,” DSWD Dir. Arnel Garcia said.

Furthermore, Gov. Bichara said that the PLGU is open to any future partnerships with DSWD to support the enhanced delivery of social services to its target clientele.

The new RRCY building under phase 1 construction is expected to be completed in one year based on the technical plan with Delpar Construction and Supplies as its contractor.

DSWD allocated a total of P150 million to construct the new RRCY building in the two-hectare land property of PLGU-Albay under Usufruct Agreement with DSWD. The new bilding will include the following amenities and facilities: two-storey administrative building, two-storey boys quarter building, road network, parking and drainage, perimeter fence and entrance gate, water facilities (water tank and accessories), electrical facilities (power house, electric post and accessories), clinic/infirmary building, guardhouse with receiving and inspection area, drying and laundry room, productivity building, staff house, receiving area with cottage for visitors, multi-purpose covered court, motor pool and landscape.

The new RRCY will feature a rain collector system and will also have an agricultural and gardening area.

DSWD’s RRCY is currently located at a residential area in Brgy. Pangpang, Sorsogon City with only 45 bed capacity.

The relocation to a new site was prompted by complaints received from the homeowners and residents at Brgy. Pangpang due to the observed behavior by the boys undergoing rehabilitation.

With the ongoing construction of its new building, the RRCY in Oas will have an increased bed capacity good for 150 clients with ameliorated facilities to help the children in conflict with the law (CICL) in a non-residential area.

The RRCY provides 24-hour care, treatment and rehabilitation services under the guidance of trained staff where residents are cared for under structured therapeutic environment with the end view of reintegrating them into their families and communities as well as to help them become socially functioning individuals.

It provides the following services: Social Services, Home Life Services/Group, Living Environment, Educational Services, Productivity Livelihood Services, Socio-Cultural and Recreational Services, Spiritual Enhancement Services, Medical/health/Psychological and Dental Services, Legal Services and Other Therapeutic Services.