A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON THE ACTIONS AND PROGRAMS OF SELECTED

BARANGAYS TO PREVEENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW) IN BATANGAS

CITY

Researchers:

Cataquis, Lenz Meret P.

Cordero, Maricris A.

De Jesus, Aidon J.

Zara, Sharah Gaye T.

 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

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

complex social structures caused by gender inequality and discrimination. According to

Kofi Annan (2000), “violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human

rights violation. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth.” Furthermore,

as defined by the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993),

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”.

The United Nations decade for Women (1976-1985) once regarded this

phenomena as rare or non-existent until incidence of violence against women arises all

over the world and become alarming to the public. It becomes a universal problem. In a

report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), it shows that 35% of women

worldwide have experienced violence and 30% of such violence is caused by intimate

partners.
 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 national government has extended their duties and functions of preventing

cases of violence against women to local government unit specifically to the barangay

through the establishment of Barangay VAW desk for women. Barangay is the basic

political unit which serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government

programs, projects and activites. It is the first level of government located within the

jurisdiction of any municipality or city concerned and the closest political body to give

immediate assistance and action whenever there are VAW cases in the vicinity.

In Batangas city, (absence of brgy. Vaw desks)

 This study was developed through Section 9 of Republic Act No. 9710, known as

the Magna Carta of Women-Protection from Violence, stating that state shall ensure

that all women shall be protected from all forms of violence as provided for in existing

laws. The primary audiences for the study are women from the selected barangays in

the Batangas City.

The purpose of this study is to provide the reader with basic information

regarding the extent and magnitude of VAW cases. It also assesses the actions and

programs implemented by the barangays in preventing VAW cases.

The researchers believe 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 will serve as an up bringer for the proposal of

ordinances securing and strengthening the protection of women.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The focal point of the study is to assess the actions and programs implemented

by selected barangays of Batangas City in preventing violence against women.

According to Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), VAW has something to

do with unequal power relationship between women and men, resulting from society

having misinformed views on gender and sexuality. Sandra Bem (1993) has identified

that women and men have basically different psychological and sexual natures. Men

consider superiority as natural and that they are dominant over women largely because

they have been exposed to patriarchal influences of the society

 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. (Stop Violence

against Women and Children)

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, Barangay’s

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 focus its study on assessing the implementation of

actions and programs in selected barangays within their jurisdiction in order to prevent

violence against women. The study is conducted by identifying first the risk/threats

faced by women in selected barangays of Batangas City and the actions and programs

existing in their locale to suppress and prevent VAW cases. Evaluating the rate of

satisfaction to the actions and programs existing will follow. As an output of the study,
 the researchers will proposed a legal measure that will strengthen women’s safety and

security.

PARADIGM OF THE STUDY

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

The researchers will identify the risk/threats faced by women in the selected barangays

of Batangas City, the actions and programs implemented in the barangays and the rate

of satisfaction to the actions and programs according to the respondents. The data

gathered from the survey questionnaire will be interpreted and analyzed resulting to an

appropriate legal measure that will help boosts women safety and security.
-Determining
Risk/threats faced by
women in selected
barangays of
Batangas City in
terms of:

- Identifying the
actions and programs
implemented in Interpretation and Proposed an
analysis of the data ordinance that will
selected barangays
gathered through strengthen the
of Batangas City survey questionnaire security and safety
of women in
barangays of
-Evaluation of the
Batangas City
satisfaction of the against violence
actions and programs
implemented

INPUT
PROCESS
OUTPUT
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study aims to assess the actions and programs existing in the selected

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

seek to answer the following questions:

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

City in terms of:

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

violence against women?

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

selected barangays of Batangas City in addressing violence against women?

4. What legal measure 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; and

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

d) That the participants of the study aware of the existing actions and

programs implemented in their barangay.

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 are

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

The study focuses on the assessment of the actions and programs implemented

or existing in selected barangays in preventing and addressing violence against women.

The identification of different forms of risks/threats faced by women, actions and

programs to prevent such violence and the respondents’ corresponding satisfaction rate

to the actions and programs is administered through a 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 assess the actions and programs implemented in

selected barangays of Batangas City 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.

Arbitrary Detention. It occur when an individual is arrested and detained by a

government without due process and detained by a government without due process
and without the legal protections of a fair trial, or when an individual is detained without

any legal basis for the deprivation of liberty. (The Center for Justice and Accountability)

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)

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)

Gender-based Violence. It is the general term used to capture violence that occurs as

a result of the normative role expectations associated with each gender, along with the

unequal power relationships between the two genders, within the context of a specific

society. (Bloom 2008, p.14)

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

(Global Study on Homicide, 2013)

Human Rights. These are the rights that everyone equally has by virtue of his very

humanity and also by virtue of his being grounded in an appeal to our human nature.

(R.J Vincent, Human Rights and International Relations, Cambridge University Press,

(1986), p. 13.)

Local Government.

Ordinance. It is a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal body which govern

matters promoting the general welfare and development of the community. (Lectric Law

Library’s Lexicon)

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 November, 2013)

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)