MANILA — To provide adequate protection to women against all forms of crimes and abuses, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has proposed the creation of additional women and children’s help desks in communities.
“There is an issue that maybe we can use the GAD budget for these things, or gamitin din tulad ng, halimbawa, pagbibigay ng puhunan para sa mga babaeng gustong magkaroon ng trabaho (use also like, providing capital for women who want to have a job),” Belmonte said in a statement.
Belmonte suggested using the city’s Gender and Development (GAD) budget for the creation of additional help desks.
She cited a recent study conducted by the Social Weather Stations which showed that women are most vulnerable to sexual harassment, especially in public places.
The study also stated that 3 out 5 women in Quezon City were sexually harassed at least once in their lifetime.
“With more women and children’s protection desks in every barangay, in addition to those at the police stations, we can address the vulnerabilities of women,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte said that all government offices, local government units, and state universities and colleges are enjoined to utilize at least five percent of their budget for programs that promote gender equality under the GAD Budget Policy.
Belmonte explained that Quezon City’s annual budget for 2018 is PHP19 billion, five percent of which translates to roughly PHP950 million. She said such amount can be used in providing more opportunities for women empowerment and reduction and eradication of all forms of violence against women. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
