Recognized for its compliance to set standards and dedication to providing effective social services, the “Bahay Pag-asa ng Valenzuela” progressed to Level 2 Accreditation, and some Valenzuelano social workers were awarded accreditation from the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), issued last February 2023.

The Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) Standards Bureau granted a Certificate of Accreditation to Valenzuela City’s “Bahay Pag-asa” for its satisfactory compliance with the Second Level standard requirements, or Level 2 Accreditation, in the implementation of Center-based Residential Programs and Services for Children in Conflict with the Law. This is pursuant to DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 17 Series of 2018 and Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4373 entitled "An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines and for Other Purposes” as amended by Section 4 of Republic Act 10847.

According to Republic Act 10630, “Bahay Pag-asa” are twenty-four (24) hour child-care institutions managed, established, and funded by the local government unit (LGU) that provide short-term residential care to children who are in conflict with the law. Also, parts of the institution are a support center and an intensive juvenile intervention that serves for counseling and rehabilitation of the said children. These houses of hope are also categorized as a social welfare development (SWD) program, specifically a “center-based residential program”.

Alongside, a certificate of accreditation from DSWD is issued to SWD programs and services that comply with prescribed requirements for its facilities which were set. There are also levels of accreditation that are classified into three (3) levels, namely Levels 1 to 3. Having achieved Level 2, this accreditation denotes that the program has complied with “mandatory and higher set indicators for its work areas”; which Valenzuela City’s Bahay Pag-asa resolutely completed.

In an interview, Bahay Pag-asa ng Valenzuela Center Head, Ms. Lourdes Gardoce explained the significance of having the institution progress to Level 2 accreditation. According to her, this accreditation certifies that the quality of services, programs, and facilities that are being rendered to Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) is ensured and maintained according to the requirements and assessment of the DSWD. The institution also saw this as an opportunity to prioritize the children’s needs through the help of technical assistance from DSWD.

When asked about the measures, preparations, and best practices that the institution implemented, Gardoce featured Bahay Pag-asa’s complete multi-disciplinary team that addresses all aspects of the children’s needs; namely residential, medical, social, education, and livelihood. They also implement comprehensive programs in which they continuously improve their measures and interventions and craft mechanisms for children to understand policies effectively. Buklod Paglaom is also one of their projects for child rehabilitation and reintegration. Lastly, they ensure that their tool for assessment is up-to-date to measure the juvenile’s necessities more efficiently.

The Bahay Pag-asa ng Valenzuela aims to carry on maintaining their state-of-the-art facilities and their systems for rehabilitation while regularly evaluating and upgrading their programs and services for the CICL. Looking forward, the institution strives to also reach Level 3 accreditation through unceasing efforts to comply with higher indicators set by the DSWD.

On the other hand, three (3) Valenzuelano social workers were also granted a Certificate of Accreditation for upholding their duty and competence as Social Worker Managing Court Cases pursuant to DSWD Administrative Order No. 01 Series of 2008 and Republic Act No. 8369 entitled, "Family Courts Act of 1997". Franz Leonel Espeso, Ferlene Yutuc, and Rodan Fernan Abadiez were the social workers who were recognized.

The Bahay Pag-asa ng Valenzuela located at R. Jacinto Street in Barangay Canumay West was inaugurated last March 31, 2013, during the term of the former city mayor and now senator WIN Gatchalian. In June 2017, the institution reached the first level of accreditation from DSWD and this certification was valid until June 2020. Currently, Valenzuela City’s house of hope has nurtured a total of eight hundred sixty-nine (869) clients, dating from March 31, 2013, up to the present March 2023.

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