Violence against women children up in Baguio

By Jessa Mardy P. Samidan

BAGUIO CITY -- Reported cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) are increasing here.
    This was based on data analytics as reflected in a joint database on VAWC initiated in 2021 by the concerned government agencies to harmonize statistics as basis in decision and policy-making in an effort to resolve issues and challenges.
    For the first semester of the year, there are already 149 VAWC cases recorded based on the database jointly managed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and the Baguio City Police Office.
    VAWC cases increased from 98 in 2021 to 461 in 2022, according to CSWDO Social Welfare Officer II Coralie Dulnuan.
    She said the majority of the VAWC cases were physical abuse but only a few have filed legal cases against their identified abusers.
    The increase in cases of VAWC prompted the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking (LCAC-VAWC) to pass a resolution for the establishment of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) in the barangay level.

The resolution was subsequently supported by councilors Elmer Datuin and Mylen Yaranon by filing this to the City Council through an ordinance.

Under the proposed ordinance, the local government adheres to support the National Quest for Violence Against Women (VAW) Free Philippines through the organization and mobilization of MOVE and it shall assist in organizing the male staff and employees of the CSWDO as well as male community members into a movement of men opposing to VAW everywhere.

Further, the city shall develop and impart among CSWDO male personnel the appropriate VAW-related knowledge, attitudes and habits or practices and to mobilize individual men to spearhead the same in their respective families and communities an advocacy against VAW.