ILOILO — With disaster-related displacement increasing across Western Visayas, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has intensified efforts to protect women and children by training responders to stop gender-based violence (GBV) in evacuation centers.
OCD held a region-wide orientation on December 5 aimed at strengthening frontline capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to GBV in temporary shelters — spaces officials stressed must offer protection, not expose evacuees to further harm.
“These locations should be sanctuaries for affected families, particularly women and children, who are often at greater risk during disasters,” said OCD regional director Raul Fernandez. “We take these issues seriously; the safety of our communities, especially the most vulnerable, is non-negotiable.”
The activity gathered camp personnel from Iloilo City, Pavia, Leganes and Oton under the agency’s Gender Focal Point System.
Training Focus: RA 9262 and Safe Spaces Act
The session centered on Republic Act (RA) 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, and how its provisions apply inside evacuation sites.
Resource speaker Rayner Jude Lobaton, a registered social worker from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, also discussed Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, emphasizing the heightened need for vigilance in crowded shelters.
Lobaton “meticulously detailed the provisions” of RA 9262 and explained the legal responsibilities of government agencies and local bodies in protecting evacuees from abuse. He stressed that adherence to these laws is “particularly vital in temporary shelters where displaced individuals congregate.”
Hands-on Approach to Preventing Abuse
Participants engaged in scenario-based exercises and group discussions to assess real-world vulnerabilities in evacuation settings. They were tasked with crafting response strategies to potential GBV incidents, a process designed to sharpen coordination and boost situational awareness.
Informational materials were also distributed to equip camp managers with practical tools and contact details for support services.
OCD-6 reaffirmed its commitment to placing protection at the center of disaster response and thanked DSWD or its continuing partnership as Vice Chair for Disaster Response and Early Recovery.
Fernandez underscored the need for an integrated approach, saying combating GBV “must be integrated into disaster preparedness and response strategies.”/PN
