The city government is assessing how effectively its offices and barangays respond to violence against women and children (VAWC), with a focus on identifying gaps in case reporting, intervention and victim assistance.
The review was conducted by the city’s Gender and Development (GAD) Council in partnership with Gabriela Women’s Party on Oct. 29, 2026, in Barangay Pusok.
It brought together representatives from barangay women’s commissions, VAWC desks, GAD offices, nongovernment organizations and academic institutions to evaluate the implementation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act and improve coordination among agencies handling abuse cases.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan said frontline offices must be equipped to respond to reports of violence, handle cases properly and refer victims to the appropriate agencies.
“Protecting women and children begins with taking their concerns seriously and responding when they need help,” King-Chan said, stressing that concerned offices must ensure victims receive the necessary protection and assistance.
During the review, Committee on Gender and Development chairperson Councilor Jeorgen Eyas-Book presented the city’s GAD accomplishments from 2023 to 2026, including ordinances and resolutions supporting women’s protection and gender rights.
Councilor Annabeth Cuizon also discussed the city’s three-layer protection framework, which covers legislation focused on women, coordinated response mechanisms and measures to safeguard children.
These include the city’s GAD Code, Women’s Commission ordinance and anti-trafficking measures, as well as the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and VAWC, barangay VAWC desks, the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Desk, a unified referral protocol and a Quick Reaction Team.
To examine how these measures work at the community level, participants also reviewed documented cases from Barangays Calawisan, Basak and Poblacion involving physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
The presentations aimed to provide a clearer picture of reported violence in the barangays and identify weaknesses in reporting, intervention and victim support.
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Sarah Jane Elago discussed updates to the Anti-VAWC Law and gender equality indicators, emphasizing the need for sustained local action to address inequalities.
Gabriela Women’s Party National Chairperson Emerenciana De Jesus, meanwhile, urged stakeholders to turn their commitments to women’s rights into concrete programs and interventions.
“We stood firm in our slogan of inclusivity. Slogans are not just words, they should go into practice and produce qualitative input. We confirm our commitment na tuloy-tuloy ang ating trabaho,” De Jesus said.
Councilor Ariane Neil Marie Yap said the local legislative council must continue evaluating existing policies and identifying areas where services for women could be improved.
“Ang importante makita nato ang epekto niini sa kinabuhi sa atong kababayen-an,” Yap said.
In the afternoon session, city social workers’ representative Catherine Ladaga and Women and Children Protection Desk representative PMSg. Leonida Nisnea presented updates on social protection services and police response efforts.
Gabriela Women’s Party also facilitated a forum to consolidate recommendations for improving the city’s VAWC response system.
📷 Wikimedia
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