Advisory on funding to address gender violence to be issued

The Philippine Commission on Women will soon issue an advisory to all local government units (LGUs) on the use of their respective gender and development funding for cases of gender-based violence during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

According to President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth weekly report to Congress, the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning hotline of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) is now responding to incidents of gender-based violence while the ECQ is in effect to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Through the initiative of the POPCOM, the Philippine Commission on Women is set to issue an advisory to all LGUs to utilize their Gender and Development budget to address GBV cases," the report said.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier urged the government to implement measures that would allow victims of domestic abuse to seek help despite the Luzon-wide ECQ given that “increased threat to women and children can be a predicted consequence of the coronavirus lockdowns."

The CHR said the government should take the following steps to combat domestic abuse:

• Adopt measures ensuring that victims of abuses have access to legal aid, such as restraining orders even during the crisis
• Provide safe shelters and financial aid for those who want to leave their house
• Provide medical and psychological care through helpline services which victims could access via online chats and texting services

The Luzon-wide ECQ is in effect until April 30.

As of Monday, there are a total of 6,459 cases of COVID-19 reported in the Philippines, with 428 deaths and 613 recoveries. — DVM, GMA News