Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee, Region 1(RJJWC, R1) to establish a research partnership. The MOA signing was held at Puerto de San Juan Resort Hotel, San Juan, La Union. This coincided with the conclusion of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week with the theme “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bata may Pag-asa; Ligtas na Lipunan sa Bagong Henerasyon”.

The MOU was led by Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, DMMMSU Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation, alongside Maria Angela S. Gopalan, the Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 1, who is the  RJJWC, R1. Chairperson. Also present during the MOA signing were RJJWC members from the Province of Ilocos Norte, the Province of Ilocos Sur, the Province of La Union, the Province of Pangasinan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) FO 1, the Department of Justice (DOJ) NPS 1, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) RO 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) RO 1, the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH CHD) 1, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) RO 1, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) R 1, Philippine National Police (PNP) RPO 1, Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) RO 1, Philippine Drug and Enforcement Agency (PDEA) RO 1, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) RO 1, and the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) 1.

The initiative was done through the efforts of Dr. Joel Estacio, DMMMSU Research Ethics Committee (REC) Chairperson. This partnership aims to enhance research collaboration and promote awareness on Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act among stakeholders.