By Mariela Angella Oladive
Gender-based violence (GBV) cases in Western Visayas surged by 57% in the first nine months of 2024, according to data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 6 (DSWD-6).
A total of 2,878 cases were recorded from January to September, compared to 1,833 during the same period last year.
Social Welfare Officer II Ana Lee Dema-ala presented the figures during a Strategic Communications Workshop on November 29, highlighting that women accounted for 92.4% (2,660) of the cases, while men made up 7.6% (218).
One case involved a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Negros Occidental had the highest number of incidents with 1,218, followed by Iloilo with 498 and Antique with 420. Other cases were recorded in Bacolod City (312), Aklan (214), Iloilo City (86), Capiz (83), and Guimaras (47).
Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) constituted the majority of cases, totaling 2,294 (79.7%). Child abuse cases numbered 294 (10.2%).
Other GBV-related incidents included rape (158), acts of lasciviousness (45), sexual harassment (20), violations of the Safe Spaces Act (16), violence against males (14), trafficking (8), violence against differently-abled persons (4), violence against older persons (2), and one case involving an LGBTQ+ individual.
“In terms of VAWC, most of the walk-in cases we observed involve women in their 40s and 50s suffering from economic and physical abuse,” Dema-ala told Daily Guardian.
She explained that victims seeking help from Violence Against Women (VAW) desks were provided immediate support, including temporary shelters, referrals to appropriate agencies, and case management services.
DSWD-6 Regional Director Arwin Razo emphasized that GBV cases reflect societal failure, calling for collective action to address the issue.
“We always say that when there are victims, our society has failed them. Addressing abuses requires a collective effort. We already have local mechanisms in place, but these need to be strengthened. If they are fully functional, our approach can shift from reactive to preventive,” Razo said.
He underlined the importance of community-based interventions, noting that VAWC desks must play a proactive role in identifying and preventing cases.
“From the grassroots to the national level, it must be a unified effort by all stakeholders,” Razo added.
He said while the rise in cases highlights the need for improved measures, a decline in statistics would signal the effectiveness of interventions.
“Our goal is to see zero cases of VAWC. We are focusing on capacitating Local Government Units to ensure they are responsive and functional while intensifying community-based programs,” he said.
The DSWD-6 also highlighted ongoing legal frameworks and campaigns to combat GBV, such as Proclamation 1172 s. 2006, which established the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, and Republic Act 10398, declaring November 25 as National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.
Since 2002, the Philippines has been active in global initiatives to eliminate GBV, leading to landmark laws such as RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) and RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004).
With GBV cases on the rise, the DSWD-6 stressed the importance of public involvement in addressing the issue. The agency urged communities to report incidents, utilize local support networks, and advocate for proactive and inclusive measures to protect vulnerable groups.
