‘Panagtigum’ brings anti-VAW education to remote community in Agusan Sur
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, in partnership with the Agusan del Sur Provincial Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women (PCAT‑VAWC), brought its flagship grassroots information drive ‘Panagtigum sa Barangay (gathering in the barangay)’ to Halapitan in La Paz town on November 25 as part of the nationwide 18‑Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.
Despite muddy and rocky terrain and the need to cross a hanging bridge to reach the village, the PIA Caraga team and partner agencies pushed through the activity to deliver timely and relevant information to remote communities.
The forum, titled ‘Panagtigum sa Barangay: A Grassroots Forum for a VAW‑free Community,’ aimed to educate residents on laws protecting women and vulnerable sectors, and to empower them to report and prevent violence in their communities. The 18‑Day Campaign runs from November 25 to December 12, 2025.
Resource speakers from various provincial offices enriched the discussions, including representatives from the Provincial Legal Office, the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Agusan del Sur Provincial Police Office, and the 26th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. Topics covered included the Anti‑VAW Law, Safe Spaces Act, Anti‑Child Marriage Law, and the Anti‑Terrorism Law.
Police Captain Renlyn P. Arroza, chief of the WCPD, urged participants to share what they learned during the forum. “To the parents and even children who are joining us today, we hope that you will also share all that you have learned today with your families, friends, relatives, and neighbors so that we will be able to realize our goal of promoting a VAW‑free community, especially here in your barangay,” she said.
She emphasized that preventing violence is a shared responsibility, adding, “The fight against VAW is not just the job of the police, social workers, or the barangay officials, but this is the role of each one of us in our respective communities.”
Barangay Captain Lopito O. Huerta expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it greatly supports local officials in educating their residents. “This is a big help, especially for us barangay officials in educating our constituents, mainly pertaining to laws that affect their rights and protection,” he said.
For many residents, the forum served as an eye‑opener. “I have learned today that we should not stay silent when we hear or witness violence among our female neighbors because we are also responsible in ensuring that there will be no abuse in our community,” said Patricia F. Magayong, a parent and resident of Barangay Halapitan.
The Panagtigum sa Barangay program continues to expand its reach across Caraga, strengthening community awareness and participation in building safer and more informed barangays. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)
