CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) - - The City Social Work and Development Office (CSWDO)  recently  led an orientation  of    Barangay Desk Officers on their roles in handling   cases on Violence Against Women and Children(VAWC).

According to the City Public Information Office (CPIO), participants were educated on the process, types of interventions, and strategies in handling VAWC cases at the barangay level as stipulated in Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence against Women and  their Children Act)  especially on strategies in identifying possible unreported abuses.

For the year, the  Tabuk City Police  Station recorded 11 VAWC cases which is  believed as a “small number that only provides a surface-level of awareness on the prevalence of violence as there may still be unreported accounts of abuses due to threat imposed by perpetrators.”
  
 Bella Margarita Manuel  of CSWDO said    VAWC cases may not have been reported due to  fear, threats,  or shame of victims especially if perpetrator is    family member  and relative. Physical abuse, sexual violence, psychological harm, and economic abuse are the types of abuse that target the vulnerable members of the family-women and children, she said.
 
Manuel explained that as barangay desk officers, they can    intervene  should they receive reports of violence where the victims are afraid to report it.   Do visitation, and   refer the case to the CSWDO or the Philippine National Police, she advised.

 Barangay Desk Officers and the PNP should tighten their services 24 hours and very responsive to reports from victims with functioning helplines and emergency support services, she added.
 
To further strengthen their role in responding to VAWC cases, they   will   be given barangay officers desk handbooks.

Manuel is also enjoining the citizenry that  if they have    witnessed any abuse  or violence against women or children,  they  report it and seek assistance at the nearest barangay, PNP or social welfare office.   (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga with reports from CPIO)