A PROPOSED PROGRAM TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

(VAW) IN SELECTED BARANGAYS OF BATANGAS CITY

An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the Faculty of

The College of Arts and Sciences

University of Batangas
Hilltop, Batangas City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

By:
Cataquis, Lenz Meret P.
Cordero, Maricris A.
De Jesus, Aidon J.
Zara, Sharah Gaye T.

May, 2019
 CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Women across the world are subjected to physical, sexual, psychological and

economic violence, regardless of their income, age or education. Such violence can

lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional health problems. Around one third of

women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate

partner or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives. Intimate partner

violence is the most common form of violence, peaking during women’s reproductive

years in both developed and developing countries. Prevalence declines with age but still

persists among older women. In the most extreme cases, violence against women can

lead to death; around two thirds of victims of intimate partner or family-related

homicides are women. (The Worlds’ Women, 2015)

Violence against women (VAW) is a worldwide crisis that arises from the

complex social structures caused by gender inequality and discrimination. As defined by

the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, it is

any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual

or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or

arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public and private life.”

According to the study made by World Health Organization (WHO), Department

of Reproductive Health and Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical

Medicine, and South African Medical Research Council (2013), 35 per cent of women

worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or

sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in

their lives. The study also revealed that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced

physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence

shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence

report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV, compared to

women who have not.

In the Philippine setting, the National Statistics Office conducted the 2013

National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) which aims to capture the extent and

types of VAW experienced by women covering all forms of VAW. In a report released by

NDHS it was revealed that one in five women aged 15-49 has experienced physical

violence since age 15. It also showed that one out of sixteen women (6.3%) age 15-49

experienced sexual violence. In a percent distribution of reported VAW cases in the

Philippines (2004-2012), physical injury is the second most prevalent case accounting

for 18.7 percent of all reported VAW cases nationwide while reported rape cases rank

third accounted for about 7.5 percent of total reported VAW cases. It was also shown in

2013 survey results that only 30 percent of women who have experienced any type of

physical or sexual violence sought assistance to stop violence; 27 percent never

sought help but told someone; and a higher proportion of women (38%) never sought

nor told anyone about their ordeal. In 2016 the number of VAW cases reported to t the

Philippine National Police (PNP) is 40, 536 which is higher than 2015 report at 35,
897cases.

The law provides on its provisions on Magna Carta for Women on "Protection

from Violence" that the State shall ensure that all women shall be protected from all

forms of violence as provided for in existing laws. As an act upholding a strong security

for women against violence and abuses on gender inequality, it prioritizes into the

defense and protection of women against gender-based offenses and help women

attains justice and healing.

The City of Batangas is a coastal city lying in a cove like shape at the

southeastern portion of Batangas Province. It is politically subdivided into 105

barangays. It has a projected population of about 339,546 with a population growth rate

of 1.46%. The average ratio of male to female population of the whole city is 1.00:0.99

with the male population slightly higher. The City of Batangas has extended their duties

and responsibilities of promoting a VAW free community through establishing Brgy

VAWC desk to give immediate assistance and action whenever there are VAW cases in

the vicinity. As three-fourths of the Philippines’ 42,028 barangays —31,408 to be exact

— already “have” a violence against women and children (VAWC) desk, apparently not

all of this city’s barangays are part of the 31,000-plus reportedly with those desks. The

City of Batangas passed ordinances compelling the establishment of Barangay VAWC

desk in the barangays of Batangas City. However, these barangay-level women's desk

only serve to manage reported VAW instances while suitable measures are being

prepared by the police officers and order Barangay Protection Order if the victim

wishes. VAW victims who are reluctant to report their case to the barangay is a problem
to consider. It has been shown in many societies, that it is difficult for a woman to report

violence and pursue legal action because of the following reasons: fear for her own

safety and her children; fear that her children will be apprehended or taken away by the

husband; influence of her extended family, emotional attachment and loyalty to the

abuser; low self-esteem and self-blame; religious values or pressure from cultural

community; economic dependency on the abuser; and lack of legal information about

their rights and laws.

Likewise, There are actions being done in different barangays like setting up

CCTV cameras in secluded areas, providing family violence program, regular patrolling

of barangay tanod, implementing curfew hours, 18 day campaign to end VAW, but this

are only to monitor and hopefully prevent or at least lessen VAW cases in the

community. Seminars conducted discussing different gender sensitivity awareness, how

to prevent VAW and counselling for women, seminar and lecture about Anti-Violence

against Women and Children or R.A. 9262 are efforts made by the LGU’s for women.

Though different efforts to end VAW have been done, still there are no concrete

long-term program that will ask women to act in behalf of prevention itself. As the fight

for violence against women continues, the researchers believe that women must feel

safe at all times and empowered even without the existence of external support. The

way to prevent VAW must come from women’s intrinsic motivation to act and protect

themselves against possible perpetrators. Lack of sufficient program that will provide

what women really need to fight violence is an hindrance to promote a VAW free

community.
 The main purpose of this study is to provide a program against violence to

women that will suffice to the actions/programs implemented by the barangays in

handling and preventing VAW cases promoting a more responsive scheme of

prevention to which women can use as their empowerment tool against violence.

The researchers believed that this study is significant especially nowadays

when the current administration is focusing on issues regarding criminality and human

rights violation in the country. Also, the study serves as an up bringer for the proposal of

programs securing and strengthening the protection of women.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The focal point of the study is to propose a program in the selected barangays of

Batangas City in order to prevent violence against women.

As a hidden problem, violence is still a worldwide mystery existing in every

country. Violence against women occurs when the human rights of women are violated,

e.g., when women are physically injured, raped, beaten, held captive, or forced to work

or provide services against their will. Likewise, when women are trapped in violent

marriages or homes, repeatedly battered, verbally abused and completely under the

control of their husbands or partners, that is violence against women.

Local Government Unit is mandated by national government to holistically

address the prevention of Violence against women through intensified collaboration and
coordination. Philippine congress had enacted laws such as Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353),

Anti-Trafficking Law (RA 7877), Magna Carta for Women (RA 9710) and RA 9262, the

Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 Furthermore, Barangays

strategic location is expected to provide immediate response and implementation of

such laws protecting the rights of women. On the other hand, the Philippine

Commission on Human Rights reported in the 11 th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific

Forum (2006) acknowledged that it was not the lack of laws protecting women that

promotes gender inequality but rather its insufficient implementation.

Therefore, the researchers focused its study on proposing program in selected

barangays of Batangas City in order to prevent violence against women. The study is

conducted by gathering first the socio-economic status of the selected barangays.

Second, the researchers identified the risk/threats faced by women and the actions and

programs existing in their local to suppress and prevent VAW cases. Followed by,

evaluation of the rate of satisfaction to the actions and programs existing, as well as the

problems that affects the implementation and regulation of the programs. As an output

of the study, the researchers proposed a program that will strengthen women’s safety

and security.

PARADIGM OF THE STUDY

 The paradigm below showed how variables are interconnected to one another.

The researchers identified the socio-economic status of the selected barangays,

risk/threats faced by women, rate of satisfaction to the actions and programs of the

selected barangays and the problems that affects the implementation and regulation of

the programs. The data gathered from the survey questionnaire was interpreted and

analyzed resulting to a proposed program that will help boosts women safety and

security.

INPUT PROCES OUTPUT

-Socio-economic
status of the selected
barangays of
Batangas City

- Risk/threats faced
by women in
selected barangays
of Batangas City Proposed Program
Interpretation and
that will help prevent
- Assessment of the analysis of the data
violence against
gathered through
actions and women in
survey
programs barangays of
questionnaire
Batangas City
implemented in
selected barangays Project development

of Batangas City

-Problems affecting
the implementation
and regulation of the
actions/programs in
the barangays of
Batangas City

FEEDBACK
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
 The study aims to propose self-defense program in the selected barangays of

Batangas City to prevent violence against women. Thus, the researchers seek to

answer the following questions:

1. What is the socio-economic status of the selected barangays in Batangas City, in

terms of:

1.1 Population

1.2 Household Number, Population and Size

1.3 Annual Income

2. What are the risk/threats faced by women in the selected barangays of Batangas

City?

2.1 Physical Violence;

2.2 Sexual Violence;

2.3 Emotional Violence; and

2.4 Economic Violence;

3. What are the actions and programs implemented in the barangays in addressing

violence against women?

4. How satisfied are the women on the actions and programs implemented by the

selected barangays of Batangas City in addressing violence against women?

5. What are the problems that affect the implementation and regulation of the

existing actions and programs of the barangays in addressing violence against

 women?

6. What program may be proposed to strengthen the safety and security of women?

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

The study is guided by the basic assumptions of the researchers, as enumerated below:

a) That the participants are willing and in coordination with the researchers in

giving responses to questions provided for them;

b) That all the responses collected are valid and reliable in accomplishing the

research study;

c) That the study will benefit the women and the community; and

d) That the participants of the study are aware of the existing risks/threats,

actions and programs implemented in their barangay, and factors that

affects the efficiency of the actions and programs.

SCOPE, DELIMITATION AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study is conducted to the top ten barangays in Batangas City with the

highest number of crime rate on violence against women. The respondents were

composed of 300 women coming from the ten (10) selected barangays.

The study focused on the proposal of a program to prevent violence against

women in selected barangays of Batangas City.

The identification of socio-economic status of the selected ten (10) barangays of

Batangas City, different forms of risks/threats faced by women, the respondents’

corresponding satisfaction rate on the actions and programs to prevent such violence,

and the problems that affects the implementation and regulation of the actions and

programs to prevent violence against women is administered through a research study

and survey questionnaire to the respondents who agreed to fill out the needed

information in the study.

The study limits its coverage on women of the top-ten selected barangays in the

Batangas City as it will be the main basis of the conduction of the study.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study which aimed to propose a program to prevent violence against women

is deemed beneficial and significant to the following:

For women, this study will provide awareness and information about the actions

and programs in preventing violence against women which are present and

implemented in their barangays.

For the government, this study could serve as a basis in providing more

intensified collaboration and effective implementation of their courses of actions and do

the initiative on raising crime and security preparedness in the community.

For the community, this study could serve as an eye-opener in providing more

comprehensive actions and programs to suppress the underlying implications of

violence against women and could help them pass ordinances that are beneficial to the
women.

For the researchers, as Political Science Students, this study will give them the

ideas and the initiative to know what actions and programs are beneficial and helpful in

protecting the rights of women.

Lastly, for the future researchers, who would conduct the same study, this could

serve as their source or reference in gaining broader knowledge in the same study.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are defined conceptually and operationally for the

understanding of the objectives of the study.

Actions/ Programs. Project that will be proposed to the Barangays of Batangas City to

enhance the protection of women against violence and this is Self Defense Program.

Basic Self-Defense Training. It is the ability of an individual female to discern “at-risk”

situation and the instinctive reaction using reflexes and judgement for protection against

and impending danger.

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW). Known as the International Bill of Rights of Women is the only human rights

treaty which affirms the reproductive right of women and targets culture and tradition as

influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women’s right to

acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. (Philippine
Commission on Women)

Coercion. The intimidation of a victim to compel the individual to do some act against

his or her will by the use of psychological pressure, physical force, or threats. (Legal

Dictionary)

Discrimination. Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which

has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or

exercises by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men

and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic,

social, cultural, civil or any other field. (Convention on the Elimination of All forms of

Discrimination against Women)

Domestic Violence. It is patterns of coercive control that one person exercises over

another. Abusers use physical and sexual violence, threats, emotional insults and

economic deprivation as a way to dominate their victims and get their way” (Susan

Scheter, Visionary leader in the movement to end family violence)

Economic Violence. The limitation given to the access to funds and credit; controlling

access to health care, employment, education, including agricultural resources;

excluding from financial decision making; and discriminatory traditional laws on

inheritance, property rights, and use of communal land to women.

Emotional Violence. Acts that insults and attempts to scare, isolate, or control women.

Feminism. The belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power and

opportunities as men can be treated in the same way. (Cambridge Dictionary)

GAD Budget. It is the cost of implementing the GAD Plan and it corresponds to at least

five-percent of an LGU’s total appropriation. (Barangay VAW Desk Handbook)

GAD Plan. Gender and Development Plan is a set of programs and specific activities

and their corresponding schedules of implementation, required resources, and costs

which are systematically designed to address gender issues in the locality. All

government institutions, including LGUs, are required to make a GAD Plan and to

implement it using the GAD Budget. (Barangay VAW Desk Handbook)

Gender-based Violence. A phenomenon deeply rooted in gender inequality, and

continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations within all societies.

Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender.

(European Institute for Gender Equality, 2019)

Homicide. The unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person.

(Global Study on Homicide, 2013)

Internal Revenue Allotment. It is the annual share of local governments out of the

proceeds from national internal revenue taxes. It is estimated at forty percent (40%) of

the actual collections of national internal revenue taxes during the third fiscal year

preceding the current year, as certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

(Department of Budget and Management)

Human Rights. Rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex,

nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the
right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and

expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to

these rights, without discrimination. (United Nations)

Physical Violence. The use of physical force by an attacker to injure, abuse, damage,

or destroy women.

Self-Defense. Any act in response to an imminent threat of death or grave bodily harm

to person or property. (Overview of the doctrine of Self-Defense, 2013)

Sexual Acts. An intentional or force sexual intercourse.

Socio-economic. Profile made by the researchers regarding the Barangays’ population

and income.

Victimization. It means punishing or threatening to punish someone. It is against the

law to punish or threaten to punish someone because of their asserted rights under

equal protection law. (Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission)

Violence Against Women (VAW).Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or

is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including

threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in

public or in private life. (United Nations)