Villages to create women, children's complaint desk

ANGELES CITY -- To address domestic violence, the City Government recently sponsored a seminar aimed at establishing complaint desks for women and children in the city's 33 barangays.

This is in connection with the rules and regulations implementing the Anti-violence against women and children under Republic Act (RA) 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women.

In compliance to the said law, a Joint Memorandum Circular Number 2010-2 was issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

It requires all local government units to establish violence against women and children's (VAWC) desk in every barangay.

Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting said cases of violence against women and children are not addressed and given proper attention due to lack of information on the part of the victims, or no immediate personnel to guide them.

"The establishment of women and children's desk in every barangay is an intervention that would raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the dignity of women and the protection of children," Vega-Cabigting said.

For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the VAWC desk in every barangay will greatly help abused women and children in the city.

"This sends out a strong message that rape, domestic violence, trafficking and other violence against women is totally unacceptable," Pamintuan said.

"We believe that barangay officials in the grassroots level have a role to play in ensuring support for victims, bringing perpetrators to justice and beginning the long-term task of preventing violence before it begins," the mayor added.

These VAWC desks will be placed inside barangay halls and will be manned by female councilors.

"In cases where there are no trained personnel, ensure that the person assigned shall undergo basic gender sensitivity training and orientation on anti-VAWC laws," the memorandum states.

Tasks for these VAWC desks include addressing VAWC cases, recording these cases and ensuring they remain confidential, assisting violence victims, and developing a barangay's gender responsive plan, among others.

Officials manning the VAWC desks can request assistance from the Philippine National Police if needed.

Invited resource persons during the seminar were John Castaneda, director of the National Barangay Operations Office of the DILG; and Judge Ofelia Pinto, of Angeles-RTC Branch 69. Those who attended the seminar are elected barangay and youth council officials.

The City Government has given each barangay P5,000, which will be used as initial funding in the establishment of their respective VAWC desk.

The cost of the establishment and operations of the VAWC desk shall be charged to the City Government's gender and development budget, which shall be at least five percent of the budgetary allocation.