Trece Martires, Cavite (PIA) — The Cavite Provincial Council of Women (PCW) president, Ms. Anne Ferrer recently discussed gender issues and prevailing problems of violence against women and children in the Philippine Information Agency's Sulong Calabarzon online program on March 31.

Cavite PCW president Ferrer, who is also the wife of incumbent General Trias Mayor Antonio ‘Ony’ Ferrer, states the most common gender issues in the province are: physical violence, sexual violence, and psychological violence. 

“These issues are primarily brought about by poverty where women and children victims opted to keep quiet and stay in this situation of abuse and violence because they don’t have the strength and the capability to fend for themselves or for the rest of the family,” Ferrer says.

She added that it is also a sad reality that the perpetrators are the very family members and relatives who should protect these victims especially the children. 

To address this problem on VAWC, the women's council established a center for rape victims where they undergo psychological assessment. 

The council also coordinated with Bukid Kabataan, which gives shelter and protection to children rape victims. 

During the pandemic, the heads and members of the local councils of women helped out with the repacking of relief goods that were distributed to affected families. 

President Ferrer also thanks companies like Jollibee and McDonald’s for their donated frozen products which were distributed to affected members of the council. 

She also led the women in gathering of data which then became the basis for the distribution of DSWD SAP to select constituents in the city. 

With the loosening of quarantine protocols under Alert Level 1, the council held the BIKE RIDE, first time ever for women participants followed by a Zumba Festival with 1,200 Zumba aficionados actively participating for a whole two hours. 

Meanwhile, on March 18 the group also held a Buntis Congress which aimed to help young mothers aged 17 years to cope with the challenges of being first time moms. Around 250 expectant young mothers benefited from the activity where they were given free check-up and ultrasound.

Ferrer adds that the women's council proposed projects/programs for 2022 such as: the livelihood projects under the GAD fund; monthly free check-ups for the whole 9 months of pregnancy for the pregnant mothers during the Buntis Congress; hold an expository tour to strengthen the morale of women including seminars and trainings on the rights of women; establish a Breast Cancer Awareness Center, a disease that affects many women; provision of Free Flu/Pneumonia vaccines as well as Free maintenance drugs to co-morbid women; and tie-up with Dialysis centers to help women with this problem.

The fruition of these proposed projects/programs depends on the approval of the GAD fund.

When it comes to the role of women in the family, council president Ferrer says that house chores should be a shared responsibility and it is a great misconception that women should stay home and take care of the family. 

She also shares that his husband, Mayor Ony helps out with household chores since they don’t have a regular housekeeper. 

When asked what characteristic does a woman leader has, Ms. Ferrer answered “The ability of women to multitask makes them effective leaders.” (Ruel Francisco, PIA- Cavite)