Gov’t launches drive to save women, children from abuse

Local chief executives have joined hands with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to save women and children from abuse.

Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes has ordered governors, mayors and barangay chairmen to enforce the provisions of Republic Act 9262 empowering women to get out of abusive relationships.

"We aim to heighten people’s awareness on the existence of RA 9262 and strengthen partnership between the national and local governments and private sector in eliminating violence against women and their children through coordinated efforts and putting in place feedback mechanism at the grassroots level," he said.

Reyes said the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) through its national president James Marty Lim have issued a joint memorandum to conduct orientation conferences on RA 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.

The orientation conference aims to educate local government officials, especially barangay officials on the social impact of violence against women and children, he added.

In issuing the memorandum, the DILG and the barangay league joined forces to stop violence against women and children at the local level.

Under the law, the barangay can issue Barangay Protection Orders (BPOs) to shield women and children from abusive partners, whether they be legal or common-law spouses.

A one-day orientation conference on Anti-VAWC shall be conducted in each province to be attended by all LnB chapter presidents of cities and municipalities within the province, and DILG, city and municipal local government operations officers.

An ad-hoc activity team will be responsible for the planning, preparation and conduct of the activity to include the program schedule, date, venue, funding and reproduction of materials to be used during the conference. — Cecille Suerte Felipe