THE 20th City Council of Davao has approved on third and final reading the “Dignity for Women in Conflict with the Law and Deprived of Liberty Ordinance” during its regular session on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science & Technology, Arts and Culture, and co-authored by Councilors Lorenzo Benjamin D. Villafuerte and Trisha Ann J. Villafuerte.
Under Section 4, the ordinance lays out a comprehensive list of rights for women deprived of liberty. Upon admission, these women must be allowed to contact their families, undergo a thorough medical assessment, receive legal counsel, and be informed about detention rules and procedures.
The ordinance mandates regular preventive medical checkups, daily sun exposure, and physical activity, and the provision of dietary supplements for pregnant, lactating, elderly, and menstruating women. It also guarantees access to free psychosocial services, neuropsychological evaluations, dental care, and drug dependency testing.
Additional rights include access to health products and treatments, legal remedies for those who have experienced sexual abuse or violence, protection for pregnant detainees from being restrained, and safeguards against solitary confinement as punishment. Legal support must also be provided to women seeking to file complaints.
The ordinance also upholds the right to communication, conjugal visits, education, skills training, and reintegration programs after release.
To strengthen implementation, Section 7 requires the hiring and training of additional female detention staff. The city must observe the recommended personnel ratios: one custodial officer per seven detainees and one reformation officer per 24 detainees.
An Oversight Committee, as provided under Section 10, will be formed to supervise the ordinance’s enforcement. The committee will monitor progress, recommend additional policies to the city council, plan and implement support programs, and investigate violations, including imposing appropriate penalties.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) will be finalized within 90 days of the ordinance’s approval. The City Mayor’s Office (CMO), in coordination with the Oversight Committee, will lead its drafting and execution.
As of 2024, the Davao City Jail houses approximately 400 women deprived of liberty. RGP