About 300 children in conflict with the law (CICL) in Talomo District will have recreational activities that will divert them away from drugs and other illegal activities over summer.
With the theme Active Sports Involvement: Gateway to Enhancing Children in Conflict with the Law CICL/Out of School Youth’s Perseverance and Camaraderie Away from Drugs, the Inter-Barangay Sports Fest Summer League is organized by the Talomo Police National Police (PNP)-Advisory Council together with the Talomo Police Strategy Management Unit, Police Community Relations, and the 14 Barangay Councils of Talomo District.
“During summertime, our CICL have nowhere to go mostly, so, we launch this sportsfest for them to have something to be busy with and do away with illegal activities like drugs, and others,” said Maria Lita Montalban, the chair of the Talomo Police National Police (PNP)-Advisory Council.
“Talomo (District) created a program to enhance their skills in sports. We also give them spiritual seminar, and in a way, this sports fest is seen as an outlet for their energy,” added Montalban who is also the chair and chief executive officer of the EMAR Human and Environmental College.
The event was launched yesterday at EMAR Human and Environmental College in Barangay Matina Crossing, Talomo Districrt.
Montalban said they aim to make the summer activity as an annual event.
Talomo Police Station Commander Major Ronald Lao said the activity is in line with the programs of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
“We also have similar programs in the DCPO every summer with the same purpose but the Talomo PNP-Advisory Council went ahead in materializing it,” Lao said.
“We want to divert their attention to sports so that they will no longer think of doing crimes,” he added.
Other than CICL, out-of-school youth in Talomo District can also participate in the sports fest.
The sportsfest will go around the district every weekend throughout summer where we target 300 participants.
The institution Montalban runs also adopts CICL for education.
“All CICL in the Talomo Police Station are adopted here in Emar Human and Environmental College, where they have a scholarship grant that entitles them free tuition fees. We also give them school supplies with the help of other donors,” she said.
Recently, a CICL finished senior high school on top of the class.
“This year, we have 500 CICL students with more than 300 students in this site and 198 students in our community extension school in the DCPO. Our class valedictorian of the senior high school program is from the rehabilitation center,” she said.
Montalban reported that the scholarship program for CICL started in 2010 and “we have been very successful because we have produced graduates, where some of them were honor students.”
