DAVAO CITY (PIA) — The increased awareness of women’s rights is seen as among the possible reasons for the spike in reported cases related to violence against women (VAW) in Davao City, authorities here said.
Both the Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) of the city government of Davao shared this observation following the significant increase in VAW cases in the city, especially after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
Bernadeth Gerodias, SPMC-WCPU training specialist, notes that the increase in VAW cases in Davao is attributed to the increased awareness of VAW, women’s rights, and strengthened monitoring and referral mechanisms among the victims.
IGDD head Lorna Mandin said the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions and full opening of government offices made information and assistance more accessible to victims of abuse, while noting that more victims have been reporting and seeking assistance from different government agencies.
Other factors such as enriched awareness and understanding of different forms of abuses, improved monitoring and referral mechanisms may have also significantly contributed to the spiking VAW reports.
“They now know about the nature of abuses, the laws, and where to seek help,” said SPMC-WCPU training specialist Bernadeth Gerodias
during an episode of One Davao Virtual Presser, which was conducted in time for the observance of the 18-day campaign to end VAW.
Less than a thousand VAW cases in Davao City had been reported in 2020 and 2021 or during the pandemic, while there had been 2,000 reported cases during the post-pandemic period in 2022, Mandin said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw organized by the Philippine Information Agency Region XI at SM City Davao.
She said that 99 percent of the cases they handled were under the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act, involving husbands or common-law spouses as the primary perpetrators.
However, 20 to 25 percent of the reported cases were not pursued, noting that “ang iba more on healing. Dili nila gusto mag-file kay walay time, kapoy, gusto nila psychological intervention, psychotherapy para sa mga bata (Others are more on healing. They didn’t want to file because they have no time, it’s tiring, or they only wanted psychological intervention, psychotherapy for their children).”
Lorna Mandin, IGDD head, believes that VAW cases in Davao City have never declined in the past few years, even during the pandemic, what has been increased is the awareness of the people about VAW and that victims can access all assistance and services offered whenever they report.
Of the cases pursued, Mandin said that only 25 percent underwent trial, these are usually cases seeking permanent or temporary protection orders from the court; however, there are some cases, especially those involving economic abuse, that are resolved during conferences and never reached the court.
She emphasized that both healing and justice are two different processes, saying, “Ideally, dapat magkasama yung dalawa nakaka-attain ng justice at the same time naghe-heal.”
Gerodias said that they have been bringing the WCPU to the barangay level to capacitate the barangay officials, workers, and residents to increase and strengthen their awareness and take an active role in fighting violence against women in their community.
SPMC-WCPU conducted a series of counseling and psychotherapy for the survivors of VAW in Davao City as part of the interventions that the center provided to the victims.
She added that they have been partnering with various agencies like the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for the Oplan Kilos, which strengthens the reporting mechanism of VAWC in the barangay, and UNICEF, together with the Department of Health Region XI and the local government of Davao City, for TeleWCPU program, in which victims can access medical, psychosocial, and legal services using modern technology.
On the part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region XI, the
agency, in partnership with various agencies and stakeholders, has continued to assist the VAW victims who seek assistance from the agency.
Sherlyn Concubierta, DSWD-XI social welfare officer, said that the agency has been providing psychological interventions to all victims by undergoing counseling sessions and guidance and referring them to appropriate agencies to address their issues properly.
Under economic abuse as stipulated in RA 9262, the victims are being referred to Davao City IGDD, while those physically and psychologically abused are referred to the DCPO-Women and Children Protection Desks (DCPO-WCPD) for blotter.
The victims are also being referred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center-Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM) for psychological interventions.
Concubierta said that all concerned agencies and inter-agency councils, such as the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence against Women and Children (IACVAWC), are working hand in hand to address the issues of violence against women and their children.
SPMC-WCPU extended its services to barangays by capacitating the barangay officers and workers, particularly in responding to VAW cases in their communities.
The 18-day campaign to end violence against women is pursuant to Proclamation No. 1172 Series of2006, declaring November 25 to December 12 of each year as the observance of the campaign.
In Davao Region, DSWD-XI and IGDD spearhead the campaign, bannering the theme “United for a VAW-free Philippines,” which aims to spread awareness to end all forms of violence against women. (ASO edited by CLC/PIA XI/Thumbnail photo from WCPU)
