Armed with newly acquired skills and provided with livelihood start-up kits, 20 victims of Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) have a good chance of becoming financially independent in the coming months.
Last week, the VAWC and GBV survivors completed a two-day skills training on fish processing, using milkfish or bangus as base, conducted by the Catanduanes Provincial Agricultural Services Office in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office.
The program aims to empower VAWC and GBV Victims by providing necessary skills to help them seek sustainable livelihood and be financially independent, assisting these victims in their road to recovery.
The attendees underwent skills training on Food Safety, Fish Handling, Fish Processing, Bangus Deboning, Bottling, Smoking, Packaging, Labeling, and Product Presentation.
Each of them will also be provided with livelihood start-up kits including a chest freezer, food-grade drum, smoke house and other needed materials for processing raw milkfish into smoked and canned bangus.
This initiative was made possible through the support of Gov. Joseph C. Cua, who has firmly backed the development of the agri-fishery industry in Catanduanes.
Under the law, Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children headed by the chief executive is tasked with implementing various programs, projects and activities on the prevention of VAWC, GBV and trafficking of women and children.
In 2023, among its notable accomplishments were the conduct of dialogues on child protection programs and policies; training on the process flow in the management and referral of GBV and VAWC cases; training on child protection or Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation (CANE); purchase of hygiene kits and belongings for use at the Happy Home provincial center for abused women and children in need of special protection; livelihood trainings for 44 disadvantaged women from the 11 local government units; and a feeding program for preschoolers.
During the same year, the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office recorded 56 cases of violence against women, including 12 cases of rape and 3 cases of acts of lascivious ness.
On the other hand, it reported 62 crimes against children, with 46 of them involving rape and acts of lasciviousness.
Preliminary data sourced from the local police by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) indicate that VAWC and GBV cases in 2024 have increased by 10 or about 8 percent.
As of Dec. 16, 2024, records show that a total of 128 cases of violence against women and crimes against children have been reported to the police in all 11 towns,
Of the 54 cases of violence against women and 74 cases of crimes against children, three are sexual assaults against women and 28 rape incidents involving children.