Caloocan gov’t launches gender-based violence referral directory – Manila Bulletin

By DIANN IVY CALUCIN

The local government of Caloocan City held on Monday, Dec. 12, the ceremonial launch of the “Gender-based Violence (GBV) Responders Guide” in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Today, we’re partnering with the USAID to train our health service providers, members of the GBV council, and local youth groups in gender sensitivity and response,” Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan said in his short address at Bulwagang Katipunan, Caloocan City Hall-South.

The GBV Responders Guide is a directory and resource book that aims to prevent domestic abuse in the city’s 188 barangays.

“Our priority is to let our women and children feel and know that they are safe and that we are here to protect them,” Malapitan said.

Michelle Lang-Alli, USAID office of health director, enumerated and discussed the directory’s scope.

According to Alli, the directory contains the contact lists of the GBV responders and service providers, referral pathways for prevention and response to GBV, an assessment guide for survivors, and other resources from the Department of Health’s (DOH) FamiLigtas campaign and other partner initiatives.

DOH’s FamiLigtas (Safe Family) is an anti-GBV campaign focusing on building awareness about domestic violence.

“We hope that this guide and directory will serve as a valued resource for all our GBV prevention champions in Caloocan City and help create bridges of hope and new beginnings for victim-survivors of GBV,” she said.

The local chief executive also emphasized the city’s successive efforts to prevent gender-based violence.

He said the partnership was the administration’s timely action as the record of domestic and child abuse in the country continues to rise amid the pandemic.

“We have responded to the rising figures of domestic abuse during the Covid-related lockdowns by empowering our very own Gender and Development Office and implementing our gender-based violence responders program,” the mayor said.

The launching ceremony was attended by Chief of Party and USAID Reach-Health Project Dr. Laurentiu Stan, Caloocan City Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Evelyn Cuevas, City Gender and Development Resource and Coordinating Office Director Jan Bagtas, and barangay officials.

“Through this partnership, we aim to immediately act on reports of abuse and help reduce the impact of physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological violence,” Malapitan added.