Port of Surigao formalizes men’s movement to end VAW
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — The Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao formally established a local chapter of Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE), marking the conclusion of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) with significance and lasting commitment.
The official organisation of the MOVE chapter on December 12 served as a compelling and action-oriented finale to the PMO’s observance of the annual campaign against gender-based violence.
MOVE is a critical national initiative organised by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in 2006. Its core mission is to actively involve men—who are often at the heart of domestic and gender-based violence—in the comprehensive effort to eradicate violence against women and children.
Surigao Port Manager Froilan U. Caturla said, “By institutionalising a chapter, the PMO is transforming its male workforce from bystanders into committed allies and agents of change.”
“The establishment of the MOVE chapter is a significant step, transitioning the PMO’s commitment from an 18-day observance to a year-round institutional advocacy for a safer, more respectful environment for women and children,” Caturla added.
The culminating activity was not just ceremonial; it was highly informative. A key feature was a lecture delivered by PLT Cheryl Q. Saldo, Chief of the Women and Protection Desk. PLT Saldo provided a detailed discussion on the salient points of two landmark pieces of Philippine legislation aimed at protecting women and children:
- Republic Act (RA) No. 9262
or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004
(Anti-VAWC Act).
- Republic Act (RA) No. 11313
or the Safe Spaces Act, more popularly known as the “Bawal Bastos Law.”
Throughout the 18-day campaign, PMO Surigao actively participated in the ‘Orange Your Icon Movement,’ a nationwide call to action. Employees were encouraged to visibly support the advocacy by wearing the official campaign badge and incorporating the colour orange—the international symbol of a brighter future free from VAW—into their daily attire. This included accessories, bags, and shirts, turning the workplace into a continuous visual demonstration of solidarity against violence. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from PPA- PMO Surigao)