DE LA SALLE LIPA

Junior High School

Research Introduction on CAPSTONE Initiatives

Andal, Aleeya Isabel D.

Basaysay, Ryan Francis M.

Berberabe, Alessandra Denise L.

Lacorte, Andrei Iñigo L.

Macalintal, Frederick L.

BM 205

October 11, 2018

 Jeopardy caused by the youth is gradually becoming a pressing issue, especially

in urbanized communities. Primarily caused by peer pressure, desperation, and lack of

guidance, juvenile delinquency in the Poblacion, Batangas caught the attention of the

general population of the community. This issue brought along detrimental effects to the

overall lives of the residents. One of which is the safety of locals and travelers, specifically

when they are passing through narrow dark streets at night where the said troublemakers

stay at. Cases of delinquent acts committed by youth are said to be vandalism, theft,

disorderly conduct, assault, and drug use. Likewise, juvenile delinquents in the area are

also said to be in groups so that they could outnumber their victims. In addition to the

implications of the problem, tourism in the city declines because tourists are discouraged

to visit the community to avoid such incidents and become victims of juvenile delinquency.

It has become alarming since only minimal actions are being done to address the issue

and it seems to have no effect at all.

Poblacion, a community that consists of 24 barangays, is located at the heart and

busy streets of Batangas City, the “Industrial Port City of CALABARZON.” This is due to

the establishment of the Batangas International Port, the second largest international

seaport in the Philippines. Moreover, Poblacion is home to 16,778 people according to

the 2015 census. They settle at a land area of 105. 7865 hectares which are also home

to numerous shops, restaurants, banks and other commercial establishments. The

community slowly shifted from an agricultural economy to a commercial economy

because commercial establishments are being erected on former agricultural lands as it

would provide more income than agriculture. On the other hand, the community is also
home to low-income families living in squatter areas, hence, children and teens alike loiter

around and cause public disturbances. These minors have been labeled as “Rugby Boys”

which is a term pertaining to a gang of street children. Contemporarily, there have been

hearings regarding the problem of juvenile delinquency in the neighboring barangays of

Poblacion, Kumintang Ilaya and Calicanto, which is why government officials are

encouraging citizens from other barangays to participate by expressing their complaints

about the continuous theft and other crimes committed by juveniles.

As described by Villanueva (2006), the family is the most basic institution where

the child learns different aspects of life and good morals that will enable them to become

responsible citizens in the future. Aside from that, Bocar (2018) said that police officers

identified that parental conflict and aggressiveness always push the youth to commit

delinquent acts. Their perception revealed that family often set the motion on the youth

to commit wrongdoings. Moreover, parents and teachers believed that paternal criminality

and jobless mother are never a ground that pushes the youth to break the law.

Therefore, barangay tanods, alongside PNP officers, should have a strict

implementation of curfew hours and monitoring of delinquency-prone areas. Additionally,

the barangay officials should work with the DSWD to detain young law offenders and to

facilitate seminars during detentions for them to absolutely eliminate juvenile delinquency

in the community if ever the strict monitoring is ineffective.

 As Lasallian students devoted to imbibing one of the Lasallian Graduate Attributes

of contributing to society, the researchers aim to reduce the cases of juvenile delinquency

in the community of Poblacion. The group is equipped with knowledge and concern for

Poblacion to propose a program and policy that would supposedly reduce incidents of

public disturbances caused by young adolescents. Wrongdoers do not realize it, but

although they are enjoying what they are doing, they will still suffer the consequences of

their action in the end. For this reason, the research paper introduction was formulated.

The goal of the researchers is to help Poblacion address the problem of juvenile

delinquency. The group also sought to answer the following questions:

1. How would authorities monitor and supervise the young adolescents without

restricting them from their freedom?

2. Why are the attempts to discipline the youth leading to non-fulfillment?

3. How would a disciplined youth be a significant positive change in the

community?

The data produced through this research will be used to help the authorities in

Poblacion in implementing a project and a policy that will reduce the rate of juvenile

delinquency for the safety of everyone concerned. Moreover, parents would be more

aware of this issue after the implementation, thus, they could provide more affection and

guidance to their children to prevent them from becoming one of the delinquents. In turn,
this may help change the lives of the delinquents for their own good and the good of the

other people as well. This research is also significant to the world today since it is in

accordance with UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 16: “Peace, Justice and Strong

Institutions”, which aims to prevent violence and to combat crime, to promote peaceful

societies and to achieve sustainable development.

References:

Bocar, A., Mercado, M., Macahis, J., & Serad, N. (2018). Common Factors of Juvenile

Delinquent Acts. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253237422_Common_Factors_of_Juvenile_D

elinquent_Acts