ILOILO – Women must overcome social stigmas and let authorities know when they are victims of domestic abuse, according to an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Regional Center for Women in Barangay Wari-wari, New Lucena.
“Dapat mangin open sila kag indi mahuya mag-report sa barangay or municipal level para may protection and safety against sa ila perpetrators,” Jojie Jumola, Social Welfare Officer II and regional center head told Panay News.
She emphasized her call yesterday during the observance of the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) and International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Jumola also encouraged women to seek help from their local social welfare and development offices and the Philippine National Police.
She stressed that every abuse against women is alarming and should not be tolerated.
DSWD established the Regional Center for Women to provide protective and rehabilitative services to women victims of abuse and violence.
According to Jumola, the center currently caters to nine women, seven of whom are children.
“Ini sila victims of violence or physical abuse kag iban sexual abuse. Iban are exploited women. Naga-edad sila 18 to 59 years old,” Jumola said.
The women are provided with social, home life, educational, psychological, health, entrepreneurial, recreational, developmental, and spiritual services.
“Nagalawig mostly six months to one year ang pagtinir sang mga kababainhan sa regional center,” said Jumola.
Social welfare officers make sure these women have family members or relatives before they could go back to the community.
She also said the services at the Regional Center for Women are free of charge. “Ang needs sangmgakliyente provided and funded sang aton government,” said Jumola./PN
