By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) in Quezon City will now be easier to track and resolve as the local government now has a unified database.
The QC Gender and Development Integrated Management Information System or the QC VAW Centralized Databank System is the first in the country, according to the city government on Tuesday (Dec. 14).
The database will be used by VAWC desk officers in the city’s 142 villages, barangays, police stations, and Gender and Development (GAD) Council.
“Justice for thousands of victims is now within our reach while we give peace of mind to our women and youth. Our message to them is clear: We are on their side and that they have nothing to worry about),” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.
In September, QC Police District (QCPD) Director Gen. Antonio Yarra reported a 66.67% increase in VAWC cases and a 21.54% rise in rape cases for the first eight months of the year compared to the same period in 2020.
Yarra said most of the cases involved physical and psychological abuses.
Belmonte has directed the QCPD, QC Protection Center, and the GAD office to strictly monitor and address calls and reports pertaining to VAWC and other gender-based incidents.
She also encouraged QC residents, especially the victims, to immediately report abuses and seek help.
“Ang hamon sa atin: patuloy pang maglunsad ng mga programa at serbisyo na gaya nito, na tututok sa mga isyu ng kababaihan (The challenge is for us to continue to initiate programs and services such as this, and to focus on issues concerning women),” Belmonte said. (PNA) – bny
