BAGUIO CITY – Some sixty male personnel of the local government underwent a one-day Forum on Understanding Gender-based Violence at the El Cielito hotel last March 26, 2025.
The said forum was organized by the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC), and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to provide male employees of the local government with additional knowledge on the existing laws covering violence against women and their children.
The participants were given an overview on the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-trafficking in Persons by Prosecutor Ruth Bernabe and RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 by Prosecutor Maria Nenita Opiana.
Further, lawyer Catrina Gynne Santiago-Bosantog of the Public Attorneys Office also briefed the male employees on the pertinent provisions of REA 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act and Anti—Bastos Law.
Social Welfare and Development Officer II Dolores Busacay provided the participants with a comprehensive lecture on the services being officers by their office, especially to the victims of violence against women and their children, to allow them to report to the concerned offices any incident of violence that transpire in their respective communities.
Jayson Martin, Public Relations Officer of the men Opposed to Violence Against Women and their Children Everywhere (MOVE), presented the newly organized chapter in the local government and rallied the male participants to become members of the said group as part of its expansion efforts and to make them vigilant against any form of violence against women and their children in their places.
Coralie C. Dulnuan, Administrative Officer Iv of the CSWDO, provided the participants with insights on understanding gender sensitivity for them to be able to be knowledgeable on the incidents that transpire within their respective workplaces and communities and for them to be able to provide the necessary assistance to abused victims and refer them to the appropriate offices for their protection. By Dexter A. See
