Five agencies of the national government last week issued comprehensive guidelines on the establishment, operationalization and monitoring of the functionality of the Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk in every barangay.
In a joint memorandum circular issued on Sept. 15, 2022, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Commission on Women said the consolidated and updated policies intends to enable the VAW Desks to effectively and efficiently perform their duties and responsibilities as defenders of women’s rights.
Under the guidelines, the Barangay VAW Desk is supposed to be established within or near the barangay hall, with its location situated in a place where the confidentiality, privacy and safety of the client will not be compromised.
It shall have the necessary equipment and supplies for recording, documenting and monitoring of VAW cases received. It must have communication equipment and first aid kit, along with other supplies such as clothing and toiletries such as tissue paper, sanitary napkins, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels and soaps, and pillow and blankets.
The VAW Desk must also have the necessary furniture and fixtures, separate storage place for files and a vehicle or transportation expenses for the transport of victim-survivors.
It must also be managed by a designated Desk Officer who is trained in gender-sensitive handling of cases, preferably a barangay kagawad or a woman barangay tanod, who will respond to gender-based violence cases brought to the barangay, assist victims in securing Barangay Protection Order (BPO) and refer cases to government agencies, among others.
Under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act (RA 9262), the punong barangay, or kagawad concerned in his absence, is mandated to take immediate action upon being informed of a violent incident and to issue a BPO on the date of filing after ex parte determination of the basis of the application.
An Inter-Agency Monitoring Team (IMT) headed by the MSWD Officer shall be created at the city or municipality to monitor and evaluate the functionality of the VAW Desk in every barangay.
To be conducted every first quarter of the year, the assessment shall focus on VAW Desk establishment, resources, policies, plans and budget and accomplishments.