WHILE the country is celebrating Women’s Month this March, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urged the public to report cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) to authorities for proper and immediate action.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said everyone should “stand together and break the culture of silence to better protect all women and their children.”
“Women should never feel alone in their struggle against abuse, and they should know that they have the right to live a life free from violence. We encourage women to reach out, report cases of violence, and access the services available to them because VAWC is a crime,” Dumlao added.
She said the public could report such cases to the PNP, National Bureau of Investigations (NBI), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Makabata Helpline, or the barangay violence against women Desk.
Dumlao said that in 2024, a total of 1,069 victim-survivors of VAWC and other forms of abuse against women were reported and served by the DSWD nationwide through its community-based programs and services.
“We provide financial, medical, and educational assistance; psychosocial counseling, and referrals to other concerned institutions such as the PAO,” she said.
The DSWD also provides intervention services that include programs for healing and rehabilitation; group life and home care; health and nutrition that include the provision of basic needs and health services; and productivity skills training and vocational counseling.
In Davao City, mayoralty candidate Karlo Nograles on Sunday called for more concrete action to protect women and children, and promote their interests and welfare. She added that women must be empowered and that not “mere symbolic gestures or pronouncements are not enough.”
“As a nation, we’ve made significant strides in advancing women’s rights, but the reality is that women—across all ages and backgrounds—remain vulnerable to abuse, violence, and discrimination,” Nograles said.
He added that in Davao City, there in an urgent need to improve support systems for women, including upgrading Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desks at the local police and government offices; increase funding for Child Development Centers, strengthen breastfeeding and nutrition programs, tackle teenage pregnancy, and expand employment and business training for women.
“We need to do a lot more. Davao City still has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a crisis that needs urgent action,” he said.
“We need comprehensive learning and livelihood options, especially for young mothers from low-income families, and a robust support system to ensure both mother and child receive adequate nutrition,” Nograles added.
He also emphasized the need to intensify efforts against domestic violence, workplace discrimination, and unequal access to education.
“The list of challenges is long, so our solutions must be all-encompassing. Tutok ang kailangan dito—hindi lang lip service dahil dumating na naman ang Buwan ng Kababaihan (The list of challenges is long, so our solutions must be all-encompassing. What is needed here is focus—not just lip service),” Nograles said.
