Bontoc mayor orders drive vs violence of women, kids

By Desiree Sokoken

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Mayor Franklin Odsey ordered drive against violence of women and children through establishment of a desk officer in every barangay of this capital town to address the problem.

Through Executive Order No. 17, series of 2014, Odsey directed all punong barangays to designate “violence against women desk” in barangay buildings desks, and appoint an officer who is trained in gender-sensitive handling of cases.

“We hope that with a VAW desk put in place in every barangay, cases of VAW in our municipality would be lessened, if not totally eliminated,” Mayor Odsey said.

“VAW victims ought to know that they have a way out, in the same way that VAW perpetrators should know that the force of law is working against them,” Odsey said.

Fe Toyokan, head of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office said because the VAW desk is made more accessible to clients, it will be easier for concerned individuals to report VAW incidents.

“Necessary services would be provided more immediately,” Toyokan said.

According to Toyokan, two VAW cases were reported to their office in 2013, while two cases were reported as of June 2014.

Odsey said that E.O. No. 17 is in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004, and Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-02 dated December 9, 2010 of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Health, Education, and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

The VAW officer is responsible for responding to gender-based violence cases brought to the barangay, assisting victims of VAW in securing Barangay Protection Orders (BPO) and accessing necessary services, developing the barangay’s gender-responsive plan in addressing gender-based violence, addressing other forms of abuse committed against women, and leading advocacies on the elimination of VAW in the community.

The VAW officer shall preferably be a woman barangay kagawad or woman barangay tanod. However, in cases where there are no trained personnel, the Punong Barangay is mandated to ensure that the person assigned shall undergo basic gender sensitivity training and orientation on anti-VAW laws.