Men and women join 18-Day Campaign to End VAW
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – Men and women from
the different government agencies and private sector joined together for this
year’s celebration of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)
spearheaded by the Regional Development Council – Gender and Development
Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC) Caraga.
Said celebration kicked-off on Tuesday with a fun
walk activity from the Guingona Park going to the Capitol Covered Court of this
city where the opening program was held.
GADCC chairperson and Commission on Human Rights
(CHR) Caraga regional director Atty. Marylin Pintor bared that the said
celebration is conducted yearly from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12 with various lined-up
activities to empower women and fight VAW.
"Men Oppose to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) comprising
male representatives from government agencies and partner stakeholders is also
an active partner of the GADCC in the campaign to end VAW in Caraga
region," she said.
Pintor also encouraged the general public to
participate and witness different activities to be conducted for this
celebration. "This year's lined-up activities for the 18-Day Campaign to
End Violence Against Women from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12 include the following:
Oratorical Contest; Gender Sensitivity Training for Media; Reproductive Health
Law Forum; Information Drive Campaign and School Symposium; Visit to Home for
the Girls in Barangay Bonbon, Butuan City; Capacity Building Training to GADCC
members; Youth Forum; and Culmination program," she disclosed.
"We are calling on every individual to
continuously help us in our campaign to end violence against women and girls
everywhere. Let us be concerned citizens and report cases of gender-based
violence in your respective community. Violence is preventable, let's end VAW
Now!," Pintor added.
Also, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Board Member
Elizabeth Marie Calo representing Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica
Rosedell Amante-Matba thanked and acknowledged the presence of all stakeholders
for their constant support and participation to the celebration.
"With this campaign we hope to bring peace
through love and respect. We encourage men to advocate in valuing the
development and human rights of women. Each of us is tasked to sustain
harmonious relationship and do our share to end violence against women,"
expressed Calo.
Paz Y Desarrollo (PyD) country representative
Antonio Gonzales also reiterated that VAW is one of the most persistent
human-rights abuses in the world, however it remains also one of the least
recognized. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
Against Women defines the term VAW as “any act that results in, or is likely to
result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women,
including threat of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,
whether occurring in private or public life”.
It has significant economic, physical, and psychological effects on
victims, regardless of their wealth, age, class, race, culture and ethnicity.
Gonzales further called on the public to witness
their photo exhibit entitled “Female Forward! Towards Gender Equality and Women
Empowerment,” on the same day (Tuesday) at 4:30 p.m. at the East Entrance of
Robinson’s Place here. “We are displaying 18 compelling visuals, which will
provide a glimpse of PyD’s journey on Gender Equality in its project areas
across Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur, Mindanao. It is a compilation of
various photos showcasing past and present projects and achievements,” he said.
Moreover, the GADCC also launched the
"Salida" Short Film and "Bangga sa Pakigpulong" Oratorical
Contest as part of the lined-up activities for the said campaign.
Atty. Pintor, together with Paz Y Desarrollo (PyD)
country representative Antonio Gonzales and other guests, led the symbolic
releasing of dove and releasing of white and orange color balloons printed with
this year's theme, "End VAW Now! It's our Duty!" which echoes the
clarion call to the ordinary Juana and Juan in harboring deep concern for women
& girls by reporting cases of gender-based violence, participation to
advocacy works, & engaging to various discussions on women's rights.
The Zumba exercise and One Billion Rising Dance
culminated the said program and followed with the press conference facilitated
by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.
The observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End
Violence Against Women (VAW) is based on Presidential Proclamation No. 1172
& Republic Act 10398. (JPG/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga GADCC stakeholders promote women
empowerment to eliminate VAW
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – Focused on this
year’s theme, “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty!” for the 18-Day Campaign to End
Violence Against Women (VAW) 2014, the Regional Development Council (RDC) -
Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) stakeholders in Caraga
region continued in educating and capacitating women to take actions against
discrimination that seriously violates all human rights and fundamental
freedom.
In a press conference held here right after the
kick-off activity, GADCC chairperson and Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
regional director Atty. Marylin Pintor reiterated that the campaign aimed to
increase awareness of rights-bearer and empowering them to prevent from
becoming victims of gender-based violence. "The duty-bearers are likewise
expected to augment their efforts and forge partnerships among stakeholders in
addressing VAW," she said.
When asked about the role of local government
units (LGUs) in ending VAW, Pintor emphasized that LGUs are tasked to strictly
implement the laws. "There are VAW desks in every barangay and this is a
way of bringing government services nearer to the people, especially the
provision of legal assistance to women," she said.
It was pointed out that putting up of VAW desk in
every barangay is necesary in order to help solve VAW problems. In Agusan del
Norte, Sangguniang Panlalawigan board member Elizabeth Marie Calo said that
their office started receiving ordinances creating and strengthening the VAW
desks in the entire province.
As of October 2014, there are 54 cases of rape, 71
physical injuries, and 1,478 cases for violations under R.A. 9262 recorded in
Caraga region as revealed by PSInsp Venus Delmida in her report on “updates on
VAW related cases”.
"With that, the report from Philippine
National Police Office 13 shows that indeed a lot of women now are confident to
report even the minor violence that they have experienced. Our efforts in
ending VAW must be harmonized to create greater impact to the women we are
serving. It is a year-round campaign and we want to unify and highlight our
advocacy without ceasing," stressed Pintor.
However, Agusan del Norte provincial prosecutor
Marigel Hugo cited that most of the reasons why VAW cases will not be elevated
in court are due to the withdrawal of the aggrieved party and no available
witnesses.
Prosecutor Hugo said that VAW is not limited only
on physical abuse but it also includes economic abuse, among others. "When
female partners experience such violence, I encourage them to speak out and
claim their rights against violence," she said.
According to Atty. Cisco Franz Maclang, clerk of
court of Regional Trial Court, Branch 1 in Butuan City, those abused women who
would come to their office to seek for protection order will be granted without
necessary payment of legal fees. "Being considered as non-criminal in
nature, it is not a move of running before the offending party to put them
behind bars but to protect the abused women from further violence," he
said.
Meanwhile, Paz Y Desarrollo country representative
Antonio Gonzales expressed that as a non-government organization they help
provide skills and livelihood projects for women to sustain economic
independence. "An empowered woman has more possibilities to combat violence,"
he added.
Paz Y Desarrollo, together with GADCC Caraga, will
conduct in no definite date yet a Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) among media
practitioners in Caraga region.
The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women
in the Philippines is celebrated from November 25–December 12 of every year
pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1172 signed by former President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (VLG/NLM/PIA-Caraga)
'18-day campaign to end VAW' stakeholders vow for
continued advocacy
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Nov. 25 (PIA) - Members of the
Provincial Council for the Welfare Children and Women (PCWCW) and other
stakeholders vow to continue the campaign even after December 12 and to
advocate the ending of violence against women and children while making
appropriate representation to local government units (LGUs) to convince them to
put up separate space or detention center for women and children victims and
offenders.
This is the root of the messages that were
delivered by the members of the PCWCW during a radio program conducted at DxDA
radio station as an opening salvo of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence
Against Women with the theme, “End VAW now! It’s our Duty!” that starts on
Tuesday and will end on December 12, 2014.
Asked on the status of abuses committed against
women and children, P/Insp Junalyn Suan of the Philippine National Police
Provincial Office presented the figure that surprised even the other members of
the council. But Insp. Suan said, the figure does not mean that the count of
the crime was committed lately.
“The figure appears that in the year 2013, a total
of 406 abuses to both women and children province-wide were inflected while as
of ending September 2014, the abuses already totaled to 531, with an increase
of 125 cases. But it does not really mean that the perpetrators and the victims
are increasing. As per our evaluation, the level of awareness on the commission
of any act that lead to abuses increased a lot, and that became the main factor
that made the figure increase tremendously,” Suan said.
According to Michael John Andohuyan of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Regional Office,
information and education on the different crimes perpetrated and can be
committed against women and children is very important because many does not
even attempt to bring the case to proper authorities because of “shame”, and
most of all lack of knowledge of the crime that make them inferior to go to the
proper authorities to file the case.
Elva Theresa Velmonte of the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) also said that most perpetrators that they have
recorded are relatives of the victims thus incest rape are the common crime
committed.
“The crime does not only destroy the victim upon
its commission, but it ruins the victims’ well being and future. Therefore, the
process is long and tedious which need deep understanding and psychological
healing. We can now imagine how heinous is the crime, but that situation
sometimes is the reason why the case will not prosper,” Velmonte said.
While there are conviction and sentence for the
crime committed against women and children, more than 30 cases were filed at
the office of Parole and Probation (PAB) here in Agusan del Sur that are
applying for probation, according to Cenen Castellano of the PAB.
“We are not after for the conviction and the
serving of sentence, but we are after for the development and the hope that
even the convict can be given the chance for renewal and become a productive
Filipino citizen. After the council of the convict filed a petition in our
office for probation, we have to process the documents for a maximum of six
months, and return the same to the Judge for final decision, so we do not have
any jurisdiction of the convict after the processing,” Castellano said.
While cases of abuses against women and children
continue, members of the PCWCW have agreed that they will be making appropriate
representation to the LGUs for the provision of separate shelter for women and
children who are victims of physical, psychological, economic and any other
forms of abuses inflected to them. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
LGU-Surigao Norte joins 18th-Day Campaign to end
VAW
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – The provincial
government of Surigao del Norte through the Provincial Center for Women’s
Training and Development in coordination with the Philippine Commission on
Women (PCW) joins the observance of the 18-day to End Violence Against Women
(VAW) here from November 24 to December 12, 2014.
Provincial Center for Women’s Training and
Development head and PCW-AECID project coordinator Florian Tan Trinidad said
that their office has been spearheading the yearly lined-up activities.
Trinidad added that this year’s observance is anchored on the theme, “End VAW
Now! It’s Our Duty!” which also aimed to raise awareness on Republic Act 9262,
intensify campaign to end violence against women, and uplifting women’s worth.
The lined-up activities include hanging of
streamers, thanksgiving mass, motorcade, zumba, radio information campaign on
VAWC, candle lighting for the World Aids Day celebration, video presentation on
STI/HIV Aids prevention and control, film showing/movie review on VAWC,
distribution of vegetable seeds, and GADCC team building/Christmas Party.
To culminate the 18-day campaign, a Talk on
Kasambahay Law and R.A 9262 and Talk on VAW experience will be conducted on
December 12 with retired executive judge Evangeline Yuipco-Bayana and other
invited guest. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
1-M worth of MRDP sub-project in Carrascal, SurSur
implemented
By Japhet Sugian
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Nov. 25 (PIA) - After three years
of waiting, a complete package of multi-purpose building worth one one million
pesos was finally turned-over to Doyos Eastern Coast Fishermen Consumers
Cooperative (DECFISCOCO) in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur on Thursday, November
20, 2014.
"Salamat karajaw sa paghatag nan dako na
pagsalig sa ulohan sa atong panggamhanan, ilabi na sa Department of Agriculture
(DA)-13 sa ilang walay puas nga suporta pinansiyal sa among koop (To the never-
ending financial support provided to our cooperative by the Department of
Agriculture-13, our warmest thanks and gratitude)," said Tito Garcia,
chairperson of DECFISCOCO on his message of acceptance.
The said assistance was a reward to DECFISCOCO
from the DA under Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 - Community Fund for
Agricultural Development (DA MRDP2- CFAD) component as best performing people's
organization in Mindanao.
Vice Mayor Alfred B. Arreza of Carrascal, Surigao
del Sur cited that DECFISCOCO's effort in implementing the project from MRDP 2
was very commendable and extraordinary. "This organization received
assistance not only in national funding agencies but also here in Carrascal
local funds because they really implement the project by heart and dedication,"
he said.
"Hundreds of people's organization competed,
but the said cooperative really got the highest rating," bared program
officer Sammy Mate of the program support office (PSO) in Caraga. He also
pointed out that the amount worth a million pesos will be spent through bidding
process, and must follow accounting rules and guidelines with proper
procurement plan established by the Municipal Planning Management
Implementation Unit (MPMIU).
The said organization is composed of fisherfolks
and market fish vendors in Barangay Doyos, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur. As
planned, they will consider the building as venue for fish storage and will
also serve as their social center. Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Esmeraldo
Odtohan said that the building will also qualify in the establishment of a
village type fish processing center. Odtohan's suggestion was applauded by all
members of the coop.
Further, the activity reminded each member to
become more proactive in every government's endeavor. They commit to serve the
coop by way of patronizing their own produce and other initiatives agreed by
different parties. (NGBT/OPAg Info Officer/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
PDRRMC assures preparedness among SurSur residents
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – The Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Surigao del Sur has
assured that people here also know that they are responsible for their personal
safety and security during actual disasters.
Abel De Guzman, PDRRMC executive officer said that
"'preparedness" is not the sole responsibility of the government
because the government itself, from national agencies to local government
units, are also composed of people equally vulnerable to disasters."
However, he said that keeping the right “mindset”
in this context is relevant with the help of concerned DRRMC officials who are
tasked to impart to the citizens the thorough understanding about the impact of
disasters and how to mitigate its effect by way of conducting symposia and
information education campaign (IEC).
But, the PDRRMC chief was quick to admit that
there are incidents when some members of the community are hard to mobilize as
they still want to protect their “belongings” as much as possible.
On the other hand, De Guzman also pointed out some
responsibilities of government like sending “warnings, doing pre-emptive and
forced evacuations plus other mitigating measures including pre and post
disaster activities.”
Likewise, he bared that they are focused on “risk
assessment” as calamities usually strike during end or early part of every year
in this part of the country. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Norte agrarian coop visits integrated
agricultural demo farm
By Daryll M. Tumbaga
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – The provincial
office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN)
recently toured the officers and members of the Budlingin Rural Workers
Association (BRUWA) of Brgy. Budlingin, Alegria here to the Provincial
Integrated Agricultural Demonstration Farm and Training Center located in
Barangay Ipil, Surigao City for an educational visit.
The demonstration farm visit aimed to provide the
officers and members of BRUWA, which is one of the DAR-SDN’s assisted Agrarian
Reform Beneficiaries Organization, the necessary knowledge on the key factors
that should be considered carefully during the planning stage of the vegetable
farming operations that BRUWA will undertake.
The said undertaking will be acquired through the
Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS)
program of DAR.
The DAR-SDN provincial office representatives
headed by Merlita D. Arana, together with the participants, visited the
verme-culture area, the crop plantation area, and the livestock production area
of the said facility. (SDR/PIO DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
BSP to conduct learning outreach activities in
Surigao City
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) - The Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP) will conduct the sixth leg of its Economic and Financial
Learning Program (BSP-EFLP) for 2014 in Surigao City on December 2-4, 2014 to
be held at Hotel Tavern, this city.
The BSP-EFLP consolidates the learning outreach
activities of the BSP under one flagship program. It includes a series of learning sessions
that aim to promote greater public awareness and understanding of key economic
and financial issues.
The EFLP also embodies the goal of the BSP to
promote economic and financial education among its stakeholders, who can then
become more effective partners of the BSP in safeguarding price stability and
in ensuring a stronger and safer banking and payments system.
The learning outreach activities include the
following programs such as information campaign on the role of the BSP in the
economy dubbed as “Be up to SPeed on BSP” (Dec. 2 module for professionals and
Dec. 3 module for students), financial
education expo for the working sector (Dec. 3), financial learning campaign for
Overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries dubbed “Paghahanda sa Kinabukasan”
(Dec. 4) and financial education expo for Students and Members of the academe
(Dec. 4).
The information campaign dubbed “Be up to SPeed on
BSP” will cover recent economic developments and the role of the BSP in the
economy, with emphasis on the three pillars of central banking like price
stability, financial stability and efficient payments and settlements system. Two sessions will be conducted; one for
professionals including representatives from government agencies, business
sector, and banking community, and another for students and members of the
academe.
The financial learning campaign dubbed “Paghahanda
sa Kinabukasan” for Overseas Filipinos and their Beneficiaries (FLC-OF) aims to
educate participants on the importance of using remittances to build up savings
and directing these into investments in financial products and business
ventures.
Through this learning advocacy, the BSP hopes to
help overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries achieve financial security,
bring them into the fold of the formal financial system, and enable them to
participate more meaningfully in the country’s economic development.
Officials from the BSP, as well as from the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA)
will give briefings on topics such as the importance of remittances, financial
planning, investment/business options and agri-business opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Financial Education Expo offers
various financial education activities for students, professionals and others
from the public and private sectors.
It features learning booths with audio-visual
presentations, graphic displays and interactive activities that will help
participants become self-reliant in promoting their financial welfare.
Two separate sessions of the Financial Empowerment
Course, which is an integral part of the Expo, will also be conducted for
students and members of the work force.
The learning sessions will present the importance of financial
education, the Philippine financial system, basics of budgeting, saving,
investing and borrowing, financial planning for life-cycle events, and credit
card awareness.
Interested parties to join may contact Ms.
Georgina O. Fabreag at telephone number (+632)306-2707, or at email address:
gortiz@bsp.gov.ph. (SDR/Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
