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BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government has awarded this year’s Best Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desks as part of the culmination rites of the 2020 18-Day Campaign to End VAW on Friday.
The ceremony, spearheaded by Provincial Council for Women and the Provincial Committee Against Trafficking, Child Pornography and Violence Against Women and Children, honored the people behind the functional Barangay VAW Desks across the province.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reiterated his administration’s support to the undertakings that address and eliminate all forms of violence against women as he lauded the winning entries.
“Thank you for giving this competition your best. Thank you for your selfless service and watchfulness. Today, we have shown the Negrense women the vigilance of the Provincial Council for Women in ensuring their protection, safety and well-being,” Lacson said in a message read by Executive Assistant Charina Magallanes-Tan during the program held at the Capitol Social Hall here.
In the municipality category, the winners are Barangay Poblacion, Cauayan, first place; Barangay 2 Poblacion, Isabela, second place; and Barangay Culipapa, Hinoba-an, third place.
Barangay Poblacion, Cauayan is headed by village chief Ernie Magbanua with Nelia de Leon as VAW desk officer.
In the city category, the winners are Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City, first; Barangay Napoles, Bago City, second; and Barangay 9, Kabankalan City, third.
Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City, which won the top award for the third consecutive year, is led by acting village Eustaquio Genise with Arlene Gargarita as VAW desk officer.
Moreover, Lacson said that recognizing the province’s top barangay VAW desks will help diminish the sense of helplessness that has afflicted the victims of gender-based violence and give them the courage to stand up and hold their ground because they know that help is within reach.
On November 24, the provincial government kicked off the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW with the recurring theme is “VAW-free community starts with Me”.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, the 2020 campaign “comes at a time when the country is reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic that aggravated underlying gender issues and affected marginalized and vulnerable sectors”.
It added that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the challenge of strengthening the functionality of Barangay VAW Desks as the first line of response for survivors. (PNA)
