BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Council for Women (PCW) in Negros Occidental has named the winners of 2017 Provincial Search for Best Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desks and Desk Officers.
The competition is part of the province’s annual 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, which started on November 24 with the theme “VAW-Free Community Starts with Me.”
Lawyer Andrea Lizares-Si, chair of PCW, said on Sunday the winners would be awarded during the culmination rites on Tuesday at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.
In the City Category, the Best Barangay VAW Desk is Barangay Cubay, La Carlota under village chief Noel Vargas, with VAW desk officer Raquel Angelitud.
In second place is Barangay Malasibog of Escalante City led by village chief Romulo Amacan, with VAW desk officer Feliciana Eben; and third place is Barangay Poblacion, Bago City under village chief Sergio Piansay, with VAW desk officer Juanita de la Torre.
Winners of the Municipal Category are: first place — Barangay Purisima, Manapla headed by village chief Cresenciano Sombero, Jr., with VAW desk officer Marnie Cabuncal; second place — Barangay Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an under village chief Johnrey Reliquias, with VAW desk officer Rowena Minaves; and third place — Barangay Igmaya-an, Don Salvador Bendicto led by village chief Rogelio Asin, with VAW desk officer Chona Salipdan.
During the culmination program, a forum will be held with resource speakers Eduard Lutao, local government operations officer of Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, and Commissioner Rina Amacio of the Philippine Commission on Women.
Lutao will discuss “Strengthening Barangay VAW Desks and Funding Barangay Anti-VAW” programs while Amacio will tackle “VAW and Women’s Economic Empowerment.”
According to the PCW, the 18-day campaign seeks to raise awareness among stakeholders that VAW is a public issue of national concern and supports the government’s goal to human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of VAW. (PNA)
