MARAWI CITY (PIA) — The Lanao del Sur Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) and the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC) convened their 4th quarter joint meeting on November 12.
The draft joint PCPC-PCAT-VAWC resolution, an essential agenda item, urging the Bangsamoro government to establish residential care facilities in the province was discussed.
These facilities would provide critical services such as rehabilitation, protection, psychological support, legal aid, and reintegration for vulnerable groups, including children in conflict with the law (CICL), victims of violence against women and children (VAWC), abandoned, neglected, and abused children, human trafficking victims, children with special needs, and other marginalized individuals.
During the meeting, Medical Social Worker Acmellah Acmed of the Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center presented updates on recorded Child Protection and Gender Based Violence (CP-GBV) cases. She said as of October 2024, there are 19 abused children and 13 abused women from various municipalities of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Zamboanga Sibugay.
Acmed further said the WCPU provides comprehensive services to victims, including medical examinations, issuance of medico-legal certificates, psychosocial counseling, case filing coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), referrals for financial assistance, and VAWC awareness campaigns.
To address the increasing number of cases and develop effective interventions, Jalil Usman and Farida Mangcaan, heads of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) Field Office in Marawi and Sub-Office in Iligan, respectively, proposed a case conference to foster collaborative efforts among stakeholders.
Presiding Officer Jamil Faisal Adiong emphasized the importance of empathy and urgency in addressing these issues. He urged the public to report cases and work together to create a safer and more just future for all.
“Let us all include empathy in managing those cases because they are real. Lahat ng sector, dapat tingnan ito ng maayos. Urge people to report cases because if they don’t, who will? Empathy is very crucial. We need to ensure that we are creating a generation for the future,” he said.
The meeting was part of the National Children’s Month celebration.
In a virtual message, Provincial Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid R. Adiong emphasized the importance of the occasion, noting that November focuses on addressing issues affecting children and youth.
“Karapatan ng mga bata na mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay, de-kalidad na edukasyon, maayos na tahanan, proteksyon, at lahat ng iba pang karapatan upang sila ay mabuhay ng masaya at matiwasay,” he stated.
(Every child has a right to enjoy a good life, quality education, a safe home, protection, and all the other rights necessary for a happy and peaceful life.)
Adiong emphasized that children are the nation’s most valuable assets as they will be the future leaders. Moreover, protecting children is not only the responsibility of parents but also of society. (APB/with reports from PIO LDS/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
