MABALACAT CITY – The campaign against violence against women and children here got a much needed boost as the city council has vowed to pass ordinances and resolutions aimed at putting an end to abuses and harassment.
Vice Mayor Gerald Guttrie “Geld” Aquino said that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here would be passing more measures that will strengthen the campaign. He said that the general welfare and development of women and children are taken into consideration in the conceptualization and priority and pillar programs of the city.
During the recent kick-off program for this city’s participation in the nationwide 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, Aquino reiterated his commitment in leading the SP into supporting the campaign of the Garbo Administration.
“On behalf of city council, we vow our support. We are with you in this fight against violence against women and children,” Aquino said in his speech.
Aquino, a lawyer by profession, said that the SP will be adopting more ordinances for the implementation of the so-called safe space programs in many places.
“We are currently doing the framework for safe space ordinance. This calls for protection against any form of abuse and gender-based harassment, whether on women or men in all public areas, institutions and even online spaces and more importantly in work places in the city,” Aquino said in his speech.
For his part, Mayor Crisostomo Garbo said abuses and sexual harassment, even in veiled forms such as gestures, jests and wolf-whistles (sipol) should have no place in many places especially in the exercise of power.
“We should free ourselves from the authority we tend to impose over other people’s rights dahil sa ganitong pamamaraan tayo makakapamuhay ng tahimik at matiwasay,” said Garbo.
“Nakatuon tayo para gawing ligtas ang lahat ng miyembro ng ating komunidad mula sa mga kalsada at pampublikong lugar, sa trabaho, sa paaralan, hanggang sa cyberspace. Hindi lang babae at lalake kundi pati narin ang ating mga kapatid sa LGBTQIA+ community,” the city mayor added.
Garbo and Aquino were joined by Councilors Win-Win Garbo, Noel Castro, Dr. Cocoy Tiglao, Jun Castro, Jerry Magsino and Carlo Dizon who all signed the pledge of commitment wall as a manifestation of the local government’s solidarity in preventing all forms of gender-based harassment in this city. (NT)
