Cebu Province to continue fight on violence against women, children
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY, December 4 (PIA) – The Cebu Provincial Government pledged to continue its fight on violence against women and children through the strict implementation of laws and drafting ordinances aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of both women and children.
Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale bared that provincial ordinances have been passed basically to protect women and children from domestic violence or any form of abuses.
Different commission and councils have also been formed that focus on issues such as cyber pornography and anti-human trafficking in the province, the vice governor added.
“The creation of the Cebu Provincial Council for the Welfare of Women and Children is proof that the provincial government is committed to promote women empowerment and protection of children’s rights. We are also providing various services for abused women and children including giving legal assistance,” Magpale said.
Magpale cited some of the ordinances passed by the province which include the “Anti Domestic Violence Ordinance,” “Children’s Code of Cebu Province,” and the “Barangay Recruitment and Placement Ordinance” that protects every barangay from illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The Children’s Code of Cebu is one of the projects under the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Women and Children (PCWC) while the establishment of the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC) is intended to provide legal assistance to women as well as provide immediate response to problems encountered by abused women.
The Vice Governor stressed the importance of both the PCWC and the PWC as these serve as the backbone for the full implementation of the rules and guidelines that support the rights and welfare of the women and children in every barangay.
“Although ordinances for children and women have been passed, these are not fully implemented particularly in the barangay level which is why I am calling all barangays to check and monitor such issues in their respective areas including the conduct of illegal recruitment,” Magpale said.
The “Barangay Recruitment and Placement Ordinance” requires job recruiters to submit their intent on the conduct of recruitment to the respective barangays while barangay officials who failed to do their obligations will be given sanctions under the ordinance, this is learned.
Currently, proposed ordinances that are still pending are the “Anti- Cyber Pornography of the Province of Cebu” and the “Anti- Obscenity Ordinance 2011” wherein the province plans to create an Anti-Obscenity Board.
Magpale promised to have the pending proposed ordinances reach the third reading until these be approved.
Magpale was the key guest speaker during the recent Regional Conference on Violence Against Women and Child Abuse (VAW-C) held in Cebu City . (FCR./AS/PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu NGO calls on lawmakers to pass RH Bill
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, December 01 (PIA) – A Cebu-based non-government organization called on legislators to hasten the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in order to empower women and allow them to fully participate in the nation-building process.
“How can we promote women empowerment if basic decisions such as what methods to adopt with regards to family planning is hindered?,” according to Jaqueline de la Peña, executive director of Kaabag sa Sugbo.
Kaabag sa Sugbo is one of the active NGOs in Cebu that promotes advocacy to end violence against women and child abuse.
Akbayan Party List Spokesperson Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel echoed the same sentiment. “Women should be given the right to decide for her body and sexuality,” Baraquel said.
“Many Filipino mothers die from maternal complications and in order to reduce the incidence of maternal mortality rate, we need to pass the RH Bill,” Baraquel stressed.
Previously, the DOH-7 said there is a rising incidence on maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the country and that the Philippines is far from reaching its goal of reducing MMR to an acceptable level as mandated under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
As a signatory to the United Nations MDG, the Philippines has until 2015 to decrease its MMR to 52 deaths per 100,000 population. A present, the country’s record shows a MMR of 62 deaths per 100,000 population, the DOH-7 said.
Malacañang is also supporting the passage of the RH Bill in order to achieve its MDG target in MMR reduction.
Post partum hemorrhage is the top cause of MMR in the Philippines, this is said.
Baraquel also called on the Church to keep the dialogues open about the debated bill so the public can be enlightened and choose whether to go for it or opposed it. The Church dubbed the bill as “anti-life.”
“The church here is very active about the RH Bill as we hope that they continue to keep the discussions alive for the public’s enlightenment.” Baraquel added.
Baraquel said that of the three Christmas wishes, only the passage of the RH Bill needs to be granted. “GMA (Arroyo) is already imprisoned and the Haciuenda Luisita will be divided to its workers. Only the RH Bill is lacking as we hope that this will be passed in Congress soon.”
Both Baraquel and De la Peña were part the main panelists during the press conference in the recent two-day Regional Conference on Violence Against Women and Child Abuse in Cebu under the theme “Empowering Women: Changing Communities.” (PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu LGUs to collect plastic bottles to make solar bulbs
By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, December 1 (PIA) --- Cebu Gov Gwendolyn Garcia recently signed Executive Order No. 18 for the adoption and implementation by all local government units (LGUs) the ‘Usa Ka Litrong Kahayag Project’ and to participate in the launching of the project named ‘Run to Light’ on December 10.
In the EO, Garcia enjoined all local officials to start collecting 1.5 liters of plastic bottles as these will be converted into solar bottle bulbs (SBBs) by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
The project intends to heighten the community’s awareness on energy conservation and have a greener and healthier Cebu, according to Garcia.
The project is being incorporated in this year’s Expanded Green, Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (E-Gwen) contest under the environment criteria.
The ‘Usa ka Litrong Kahayag’ Project is expected to produce 4,000 SBBs per town and city.
In making the solar plastic bulb, a 1.5-liter plastic softdrink bottle is filled with water mixed with chlorine and salt. The bulb will then be inserted in the roof as a good alternative source of light during daytime.
On the other hand, the ‘Run to Light’ launching on December 10 aims to gather about 50,000 participants where each participant will be asked to bring two 1.5- liter of plastic bottles aside from the registration fee they have to pay, according to Rowena Alensonorin of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI).
“We expect to collect about 200,000 bottles after the event,” Alensonorin.
The students however, are exempted to pay the registration fee but will be asked to bring three 1.5 liters plastic bottles. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
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CV media learns from Bohol anti-poverty programs thru visit
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, Dec. 01 (PIA) --- Twenty-two (22) local and national media practitioners from the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental joined the
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) recently in a media tour and learning visit of the various anti-poverty programs implemented in the town of Buenavista, Bohol.
According to DSWD-7 regional director Evelyn Macapobre the visit showcased the stories and best practices in the implementation of the agency's “Tatsulo” a convergence strategy for all its poverty reduction and social protection programs.
These programs include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya); Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social services (KALAHI-CIDSS); and Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) livelihood program, Macapobre added.
"We also included 'big tickets' like the Social Pension for indigent Senior Citizens; Supplementary Feeding program for Day Care children; and Rice Subsidy for the marginalized farmers and fisher folks. These are programs that help indigents cross poverty," Macapobre remarked.
After the learning visit and actual interaction with the program beneficiaries, media representatives were able to recognize and identify the benefits and advantages of convergence for the beneficiaries as well as clarify issues, gain deeper understanding of the convergence project and appreciate the challenges related to the “Tatsulo” strategy.
With this convergence strategy, maximizes resources allocated for these three DSWD social protection programs and it also unified the feedback, reporting, monitoring as well as evaluation mechanisms.
Macapobre further said, DSWD’s partnership with other Government Agencies (NGAs), Non Government Organizations (NGOs), People’s Organizations (POs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) enhances government's relationships with the various stakeholders.
Macapobre said the learning visit recognized the role of media as partners in advocacy and promotion efforts of the welfare agency.
It was attended and participated in by representatives of Manila Bulletin, Sun Star Daily, Cebu Daily News, CCTN-47, DYDD, DYKC, DYTR, DYRD, DYWC, DYGB and DYRM and Super Balita.
Other than the members of the press, four representatives from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) based in the 3 provinces and representatives of the various civil society groups from Bohol also joined the activity.
With this learning visit, DSWD recognizes media as partners in its advocacy and promotion efforts in terms of transparency, monitoring, and advocacy particularly in making the programs known to the public. (PIA-7/hfg/DSWD/jb)