DAGUPAN CITY — The strict implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9262 or The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 resulted in fewer cases of abuse of women and children in Dagupan last year, the City Social Welfare and Development Office reported on Friday.
Ma. Trizia R. Dela Cruz, social welfare assistant at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and focal person at the city’s Women’s Center, said that her office listed 19 cases in 2017 as compared to 26 in 2016.
She attributed the significant decrease in number of cases to the directive of Mayor Belen Fernandez on empowering women with regard their rights through the city’s awareness campaign on women’s rights and the RA 9262 in the barangays (villages).
“We also gave them (women) free legal aid, spiritual counseling and psycho-social counseling to help them in decision making,” said Dela Cruz.
The city’s Women’s Center, which started operating in 2017, also catered to 16 walk-in clients who sought legal assistance and advice on Republic Act No. 9262.
In line with the observance of Women’s Month this coming March, Dela Cruz has outlined several activities to be undertaken, which will focus on the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, bullying and suicide.
“We will saturate the barangays to make our women more aware of their rights especially on the provisions of the law protecting them and their children against any form of violence, be it physical or verbal or economic abuse,” said Dela Cruz.
There will also be a slogan-making contest for women, a search for “Natatanging Eba” where every barangay will have its own candidate, training on self-defense and first aid, and skills training on rag-making.
The search for “Natatanging Eba” is for women with exceptional achievements in life worthy of emulation by others.
“We also considered training them on self-defense and first aid, which is something they can use to defend and save themselves and others, too in times of crisis in partnership with the PNP and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office,” said Dela Cruz.
“We will also teach them on making rags that they may become self-sufficient and become a skilled worker,” she added. (/PNA)
