ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is setting its sights on achieving zero cases of violence against women and their children (VAWC) in Western Visayas.
This goal was highlighted by DSWD regional director Arwin Razo following a strategic communications workshop in response to rising gender-based violence cases in the region.
From January to September 2024, Western Visayas recorded 2,878 gender-based violence cases.
Of these, 2,294 were VAWC cases, followed by child abuse (294), rape (158), acts of lasciviousness (45), photo/video voyeurism (22), sexual harassment (20), violations of the Safe Spaces Act (16), violence against men (14), human trafficking (eight), violence against differently-abled individuals (four), violence against older persons (two), and violence against LGBTQ+ persons (one).
“Our dream is to someday achieve zero VAWC cases,” Razo said, emphasizing that any report filed with VAWC Help Desks reflects a failure of society to protect vulnerable individuals.
Strengthening Local Mechanisms
Razo underscored the importance of strengthening local mechanisms like the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children, which plays a critical role in adopting preventive rather than reactive approaches.
He also urged every community and local government unit (LGU) to establish functional VAWC Help Desks to assist victims and refer them to appropriate agencies, such as the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for legal support.
DSWD Region 6 operates a regional VAWC Help Desk for walk-in victims and provides referrals to relevant services. The agency also maintains a residential facility to shelter victims undergoing psychosocial intervention.
“The LGU should lead in managing VAWC cases by having facilities for victims who decide to pursue cases against perpetrators,” Razo stressed.
Alarming Numbers
According to DSWD-6 data, of the 2,294 VAWC cases, the majority involved physical abuse (802), followed by psychological abuse (670), economic abuse (478), mixed types (258), and sexual abuse (86).
Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of VAWC cases (1,218), followed by Iloilo province (498), Antique (420), Bacolod City (312), Aklan (214), Iloilo City (86), Capiz (83), and Guimaras (47).
Of the 2,878 gender-based violence victims, 2,660 were women, 218 were men, and one identified as LGBTQ+.
“We are seeing an increase every year. If the numbers decrease, that would indicate our advocacy and interventions are effective. That’s the outcome we’re working towards,” Razo said.
Campaign Against Violence
DSWD-6 is actively participating in the ongoing 18-day campaign to end violence against women, which runs from November 25 to December 12 under the theme “VAWC Bigyan ng Wakas: Ngayon na ang Oras”.
As part of the campaign, the agency has set up orange help desks at the Festive Walk Transport Hub and Dumangas RoRo Port to assist potential victims. Other activities included the lighting of the Guimaras provincial capitol in orange and participation in the “Orange Run” held at Atria Park District on November 24./PN
