Aklan Men Spearhead Campaign Against Violence To Women

By Venus G. Villanueva

MOVE, or Men Opposed to Violence Against Women (VAW) Everywhere, is embarking on an 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women which started on November 25 until December 12.
According to Franklin Quimpo, former Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and current president of MOVE-Aklan, the campaign was launched during a one-day forum and planning workshop for MOVE members and other stakeholders on November 29 at the Aklan Comprehensive Center for Women (Daeangpan it Mga Kababayin-an Sa Aklan Building).
MOVE-Aklan’s 18-day campaign, according to Quimpo, is in coordination with the Aklan Gender and Development Commission, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Office of Barangay Affairs.
This year’s theme, according to MOVE-Aklan is anchored on the national theme “Kaligtasan ng Kababaihan Laban Sa Karahasan, Tungkulin ng Bawat Mamamayan.”
In the national observation of the campaign, two consecutive major events officially started the campaign, according to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW). These are the Bike for A VAW-Free Zone around the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on November 25 and the Opening program entitled “Live Safe, Be Free from VAW! Providing Gender-Responsive VAW Services” held at the Teatro Marikina in Marikina City on November 26. Highlights of these events shall include the declaration of the two cities as VAW-Free Zones. The opening program also included an audio-visual presentation of government services for VAW victims-survivors and the expression of commitment to utilize the VAW Performance Standard in the provision of VAW Services by DILG, DOH, DOJ, DSWD and PNP.
The campaign to end VAW is already worldwide, and the Philippines has participated in this campaign to eliminate VAW since 2002.
VAW is violence that is gender-based which means that women are subjected to violence or abuse because they are women.
In Aklan, the VAW problem is being addressed through the provincial government’s response to the needs of victims, by providing a crisis intervention center through the Daeangpan it mga Kababayin-an sa Aklan, implementation of the GAD Code, and sustaining the Aklan Gender and Development Commission (AGADC) with VAW as one of the major concerns.
Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez is the Honorary Chairperson of the AGADC.
Aklan Reorganizes PDCC, Holds Joint Meeting With MDCCs
Aklan’s newly-reorganized Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) held recently a joint meeting with Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils (MDCCs) at the Governor Corazon Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center, Kalibo, Aklan with Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Angel Gaviola as Guest of Honor.
Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez initiated the reorganization of the PDCC and the joint meeting as Chairman. He said, the meeting was aimed at preparing the council members to respond effectively during calamities, much felt now with the prevalence of various fatal and alarming disasters in the different parts of the country.
“Education is one of the best keys to prepare and protect ourselves from the perils of catastrophes. Educating the members of the Provincial/Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council regarding disaster management, response, the basic precautionary measures vis-à-vis different calamities be it natural or man made disasters will be mitigated if not totally prevented the life-threatening occurrences,” Governor Marquez said.
The PDCC and the MDCCs should learn well how to utilize the 5 percent Calamity Fund, Marquez added.
In the joint meeting well attended by Aklan’s provincial and municipal officials, PDCC members and the PNP, OCD RD Angel Gaviola gave a briefing on Philippine Disaster Management System and Guidelines in the Utilization of the 5 percent Calamity Fund.
According to the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2003-2 of the Department of Budget and Management, the 5 percent Local Calamity Fund of every local government unit shall be utilized only for the relief, reconstruction, rehabilitation and other works and services in connection with a calamity which occurred during the budget year.
The joint memo circular signed by then DBM Secretary Emelia Boncodin and then DILG Sec. Jose Lina, also stressed that the calamity fund may also be utilized for undertaking disaster preparedness activities and measures provided that the Sangunian concerned shall declare an imminent danger of calamity in extreme cases and under extraordinary circumstances such as but not limited to acts of terrorism and outbreak of dangerous and highly communicable diseases like SARS. The calamity fund may also be utilized for disaster preparedness without need of a Sanggunian declaration of calamity provided there is a presidential proclamation of the existence of an adverse event that would warrant the declaration of the entire country to be under the state of national calamity which needs to be prevented and suppressed.
In the joint meeting, Victorio Pagapulan, DILG-Aklan Provincial Director talked on the Role of LGUs in Disaster Risk Management while Ret. Police Major Paquito S. Saratiosa, Provincial Civil Defense Executive Officer, talked on Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies Activities and other Advisories. /MP