BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte -- The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) – Caraga through its Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano, supports the four proposed Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordinances relating to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).  The stands of Director Makinano was raised during the joint Committee Hearing on Family, Women, and Children’s Welfare in Butuan City, presided by Hon. Cherry May G. Busa.  

These are the  proposed ordinances namely,  the Proposed SP Ordinance No. 16-075-2022, an ordinance prescribing guidelines in the rescue, assessment, recovery, reintegration and aftercare program for abused women and children victims, providing penalties thereof, and for other purposes; Proposed SP Ordinance No. 16-065-2022, an ordinance creating the Butuan City inter-agency council against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (Butuan City IAC-OSAEC), providing for its functions and appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes was also part of the committee discussion; Proposed SP Ordinance No. 16-074-2022, an ordinance establishing the Butuan City Council for the Protection of Children (BCCPC), further strengthening the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), appropriating funds therefor, amending for this Purpose Title VI, Chapter II of SP Ordinance No. 5828-2019, otherwise known as the Butuan City Children’s Code of 2019, and for other purposes; and Proposed SP Ordinance No. 16-066-2022, an ordinance creating the Butuan City Protection and Response Center for victim-survivor of violence and/abuse, providing mechanism for its operation, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.  

The stands of POPCOM – Caraga springs from its studies on the gender issues and concerns at the domestic level, the gender based-violence (GBV). (Dian Joy L. Martinez, POPCOM Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)