MARAWI CITY Lanao del Sur (PIA) — The Bangsamoro government, through the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), is gradually cascading the Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (CP-GBV) referral pathway to address unreported cases of abuse and exploitation in the region.
The MSSD conducted an orientation in Buadipuso-buntong on June 27 about the CP-GBV referral pathway with women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDCs) as its primary target audience.
“The referral pathway was established so that our citizens will know how to report or complain if they experience or witness any form of violence and exploitation,” said MSSD Provincial Social Welfare Officer Bai Yasmira Pangadapun.
The CP-GBV referral pathway is an enhanced mechanism that employs a more efficient and survivor-centered approach to responding to all forms of gender-based violence. Its primary goal is to expedite the reporting of CP-GBV cases to key service providers, ensuring that survivors receive timely and non-discriminatory access to social and medical services, safety, security, and legal support.
The regional focal person for MSSD’s Women’s Welfare Program, Faida Ensanah, stated that they treat all reports received through the referral pathway with the utmost confidentiality.
The victims or their families can report cases of harassment, abuse, neglect, and child exploitation to either the municipal social welfare officer (MSWO), women and children protection desk (WCPD) officer of their local police station, women and children protection unit (WCPU) officer of their local hospital, or their barangay local government unit (BLGU). The line agencies can provide security, medical, psychosocial, and legal services through their reports.
Women’s and children’s centers nearby also offer temporary accommodation to rescued victims.
“You can now call or text the relevant authorities listed in the referral pathway of your municipality to report cases related to CP-GBV. Any victim, regardless of gender, can report a case,” Ensanah added.
Norminah Batua-an, the gender and development (GAD) focal point of Barangay Buadipuso Lilod, shared the importance of this activity for her fellow citizens.
“Bilang GAD focal sa aming barangay, handa po kaming tulungan ang mga lalapit sa amin. Maraming salamat po sa MSSD at sa BARMM sa pag-conduct ng programang ito dahil malaking tulong ito sa lahat ng mga kababayan ko,” she said.
(As the GAD focal person in our barangay, we are ready to help those who come to us. Thank you very much to the MSSD and BARMM for conducting this program because it is a great help to all my fellow citizens.)
The participants also received mental health and psychosocial support, grocery packages, and hygiene kits. (BIO/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
