Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns

Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay Copyright © 2005 Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program (LGSP)

The Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program encourages the use, translation, adaptation and copying of this material for non-commercial use, with appropriate credit given to LGSP.

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Published by:

Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program Unit 1507 Jollibee Plaza Emerald Ave., Pasig City 1600 Philippines Tel. Nos. (632) 637-3511 to 13 www.lgsp.org.ph

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Philippines Canada Local Government Support Program Documentation of LGU Exemplary Practices

Replicable Practice

CENTER FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN: MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH TO GENDER CONCERNS IN DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

(2ND CLASS MUNICIPALITY)

CONTENTS

Summary 2

Project Description: Recognizing women’s and 3 children’s rights as a critical concern

History: A multi-stakeholder approach to VAWC 4

Results: Helping abused women and children makes for 5 good governance

Key Implementation Steps 6

Analysis and Lessons Learned: Confronting child and 11 women abuse effectively

Annexes:

Annex A – Testimonies of Women and Children Assisted by the Center Annex B - Diplahan Center Services and Procedures Annex C – Sample Letter of Solicitation

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Summary

The Center of Concern for Abused Women and Children in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay shows the success of a multistakeholder approach in addressing gender concerns at the local level – a mandate not traditionally focused on by local government units (LGUs).

Inaugurated on March 8, 2002 to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Center is the first and only one of its kind in the province. The project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the municipal, provincial and barangay LGUs, one women’s organization and two religious groups. It has also won the support of congressional representatives, national agencies, neighboring municipalities and communities in Diplahan.

The center was built through the pooled resources of the Zamboanga Peninsula Women Solidarity Foundation, the Maryknoll Fathers of Malangas and Ipil Prelature, with additional funds provided by Representatives Patricia Sarenas and Belma Cabilao. It is managed by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) with funding support from the municipal and provincial governments.

Through these successful partnerships, the Center has been able to respond to the growing cases of child and women abuse in the area, providing temporary shelter, protection and rehabilitation for women and children victims. Since 2002, it has served 91 women, filed 5 cases of rape in court, increased awareness on women’s and children’s rights, provided livelihood and education services to women and children, and raised the gender sensitivity and capacities of concerned personnel in promoting women’s welfare. Neighboring municipalities have also availed of the Center’s services, spreading the benefits of the initiative to the rest of the province.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Project Description: Recognizing violence against women and children as a critical concern

A 2nd class, agricultural municipality in Zamboanga Sibugay, Diplahan was confronted with rising cases of abuse of women and children. While municipal data approximated the number of abuse victims at a small 2% of the total population of 35,665, concerned agencies believed the actual number could be higher, as many cases were not reported. Few as they were, however, women who do bring their complaints of abuse to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) often could not be properly helped, as the municipality had no temporary shelter or any other services to offer. The nearest temporary shelter and center for abused women was the Pagadian Lingap Center in Pagadian City, some 72 kilometers away.

Because of this, MSWDO head Annabelle Basic Profile: Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay

Tayurang often had to bring home women Location: one of 16 municipalities in Zamboanga, victims who came to her office for help Sibugay province Land Area: 15,887 hectares while their papers were being processed Population: 35,665 (17342 females and 18334 males) for admission to the Pagadian Center. Income class: 2nd class No. of barangays: 21 Land use: coastal, generally flat to rolling But it was not Tayurang alone who saw Major industries/economic activities: mainly the difficulty of the situation. In 2000, the agricultural, with rice and rubber as major crops Zamboanga Peninsula Women’s Solidarity Foundation of Ipil Prelature -3rd District of Zamboanga del Sur (ZPWSFI) joined the Maryknoll Fathers (MF) of Malangas in pushing for the construction of a shelter for abused women and children. They brought the idea to the Diplahan LGU which readily committed its support for the project.

This became the beginning of a multistakeholder partnership that in its turn gave birth to a fully functioning Center, with its own organization and community-level structures, an annual budget for operations, an operations manual, and facilities and equipment, including an ambulance and a water system.

With the MSWDO as Center Head, the center is staffed by MSWDO personnel, and assisted at the barangay level by Barangay Councils for the Protection of Women and Children (BCPWC).

Project Objectives

The center’s aims are two-fold. The first is to provide for the protection and rehabilitation of victims of abuse. The second objective is to facilitate their reintegration into mainstream society by enabling them to regain their self-worth and dignity and become productive constituents.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

To achieve these objectives, the center provides the following services:

Shelter Protection Professional rehabilitation services such as counseling, therapy and other psychological services Educational assistance Livelihood, community participation skills development and other complementary skills Legal assistance in court cases Health care and nutrition services

Project History: A multi-stakeholder approach to VAWC

It was MSWDO head Tayurang who first championed the idea of a Center for Abused Women and Children. Given her experience of having to safekeep survivors in her own home for lack of a center, she personally felt the need for such a project and repeatedly raised the concern with the LGU and other civil society groups.

In August 2000, the ZPWSFI, the Ipil Prelature (IP) and the Maryknoll Fathers (MF) through Fr. Ralph Kroesi heeded Tayurang’s call and offered to put up the Shelter Home for Abused Women and Children, if the municipal government of Diplahan agreed to have the MSWDO manage the center and shoulder its operational expenses.

The Diplahan LGU readily gave its support to the project, effectively setting into motion a multi-stakeholder strategy for addressing violence against women and children (VAWC). The LGU committed to allocate an annual budget for the center’s staff salaries. The barangay council of Poblacion, meantime, worked for the donation of a 1,652 sqm lot to serve as the center’s site.

ZPWZFI and the Maryknoll Fathers then proceeded to pool funds for the center’s construction; the groundbreaking pushed through in 2001. The Maryknoll Fathers also actively solicited funds for the center’s completion, which paid off when Rep. Patricia Sarenas and Rep Belma Cabilao contributed Php 750,000 and Php 100,000 respectively for the construction. The center was completed and inaugurated in March 2002 and started operating four months later, in August 2002.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Results: Helping abused women and children makes for good governance

Since it started operating, the center has served 91 clients from 2002 to 2004. Of these, 40 were provided counseling, medical treatment and transportation while 54 were admitted (See Table 1 on cases admitted). Admitted clients included 9 cases of battery and abuse of women and children, 24 abandoned and neglected children and 2 stranded/lost children. Ten were victims of incest and rape and one (1) was a victim of child trafficking.

Of the 54 admitted cases, 16 were deemed successfully resolved; these include cases of wife battery, stranded/lost children, sexual harassment, child abandonment and neglect where the survivors chose to be reunited with their families. On the other hand, 5 rape/incest cases have been filed in court.

More importantly, because of the center, more abuse survivors have been encouraged to come out in the open and avail of the center’s services. Even neighboring municipalities such as Titay and Payao have referred clients to the center. News about the center and how it was effectively helping women and children has also spread all over and beyond the province, making the center’s services much sought after.

Table 1. Types of cases admitted to the center over time Case 2002 2003 2004 Total

Sexual harassment 1 0 0 1 Incest 2 2 0 4 Abandoned 5 6 13 24 Rape 1 2 3 6 Battered wife 1 3 5 9 Child abuse 0 1 5 6 Child trafficking 0 1 0 1 Neglected 0 1 0 1 Stranded 2 0 0 2 TOTAL 54 *Data does not clients who were not sheltered in the center but only availed of counseling and other outpatient services

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Women and children survivors of abuse also testify to the benefits of the care and assistance they received from the center. These include the skills they developed, the education they gained, the good relationships they have developed, and, most importantly, the self-worth and dignity they regained as persons (See Annex A for testimonies of center clients).

Key Implementation Steps

In implementing the project, Diplahan undertook several key implementation stepswhich are described below. LGUs wishing to replicate Diplahan’s success, therefore, may use these steps as a reference in undertaking their own project.

1. Assessing and recognizing the need to set up a center for women and children

Various stakeholders in Diplahan – the MSWDO, the religious groups and ZPWSFI – which had all been working on VAW issues, came together to discuss the issue of rising cases of violence against women and children. These groups agreed on the need for a center and formally communicated this concern to the mayor. Diplahan’s mayor, in turn, also championed the project within the LGU.

(LGUs interested in finding out if their locality would benefit from a similar center may conduct their own assessment by compiling the following information:

Statistical and other empirical data on the incidence of VAW and domestic abuse. Such information may be gained from the local office of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the MSWDO, NGOs/women’s groups or religious organizations that may be working on gender issues in the area. What facilities and services are currently available in the locality and how accessible these services are in terms of financial cost, distance, capacities)

2. Obtaining executive and legislative support and commitment to the project

After agreeing on the project, champions within and outside the LGU then proceeded to lobby for legislative approval of the project. Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolutions were obtained for the request for the donation of a lot identified as possible site for the center, and for the budget allocation for the salaries of the center staff.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

3. Building partnerships

Networking with relevant agencies like the Municipal Health Office, Municipal Trial Court of Malangas, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Education and the PNP were then undertaken by Diplahan stakeholders. These agencies provided or contributed to providing some of the services/needs of center residents for protection and legal, education, livelihood skills development and health care.

As a result, government hospitals agreed to provide medical treatment for clients referred by the center. DTI committed to provide livelihood training for women clients, DepEd to facilitate educational assistance for children and the Malangas Municipal Trial Court Judge pledged to help in the filing of court cases.

4. Generating funds for center construction and operation

Various stakeholders also pooled resources for the project, material and otherwise as well as generated funds from external sources. The table below (Table 2) presents the contributions made by the provincial and municipal governments, as well as NGOs and other partners to the Diplahan Center.

Table 2. Center Contributions from Various Stakeholders Name of Stakeholders Contribution Remarks Maryknoll Missionary Fathers 200,000.00 Building construction (initial seed money) Party list Rep.Patricia 750,000.00 Building construction - completion Sarenas Rep Belma Cabilao 100,000.00 Building construction (ceiling installation) PAGCOR 1 ambulance For Shelter Home used Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina Chairs,tables, cabinets ZPWSFI 90,000.00 Children’s playing apparatus and water system installation Diplahan municipal 366,000.00 (annually) Yearly budget for staff salaries & government wages PSWDO Zamboanga Zibugay 250,000.00 (annually) Yearly operational expenses of the Province center Municipal governments of Clothing Payao and Titay NGOs, POs and citizens Food and clothing

5. Developing organizational and physical structures

After funds were generated and the lot acquired, the center was constructed and the identified equipment installed.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

At the same time, Diplahan’s mayor issued an Executive Order creating the Center Organizational Structure, composed of the MSWDO as center manager, a Social Welfare Officer (SWO) as team leader, a psychologist, 3 house parents and three 3 security guards.

The center staff was then trained in other shelter homes to equip them with the needed skills to perform the center’s programs and services. Regular briefings on new ways of dealing with traumatized victims of abuse were also undertaken to ensure effective and up-to-date services.

As support to the central organizational structure, Barangay Councils for the Protection of Women and Children were created and/or tapped to assist in conducting barangay-based Gender Sensitivity Seminars and in assisting victims of abuse, reporting abuse cases and summoning/arresting offenders.

6. Formulating and implementing a Manual of Operations

The Operations Manual was prepared by the Center management and staff, in close coordination with other stakeholders, including the mayor, the provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, ZPWSFI, MF, IP and the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), another women’s organization.

The Operations Manual contained the following key information for the management and operation of the center (See Annex B for Center Procedures and Services):

Vision, mission, objectives Target clientele Program components, types of services Operational systems and procedures Roles and responsibilities of center staff Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms

7. Conducting Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign to raise awareness of the center’s services

Once the center became operational, Diplahan stakeholders also conducted an information campaign to make residents aware of its services.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

8. Undertaking regular monitoring and evaluation

Center monitoring and evaluation is done on a quarterly basis, again by a multi- stakeholder group. The center head also regularly conducts a case conference with all staff members to determine the status and development of the clients’ cases. This not only serves to update the staff; the information gained from the case conference is usually relayed to clients’ relatives and friends to update them on the client’s progress and help them participate in the healing process.

As a result of its regular monitoring and evaluation, the Diplahan center has identified the following key areas for improvement that LGUs wishing to replicate the practice may take note of:

1) Improve the rate of arrest, imprisonment and conviction of crime perpetrators; this has been noted after all five cases filed by the center against rapists are still to be tried, as perpetrators remain at large and have still not been found despite continued police search 2) In cases were livelihood skills training is provided, integrate mechanisms to link trained women with local industries for possible employment after they have completed training 3) Help rape survivors complete their education while they are ‘in concealment’ (in cases of trial and danger) by earning DepEd accreditation or educational acceleration.

9. Ensuring project sustainability

Center sustainability is ensured by the institutional support provided by the provincial government, which allocates an annual budget for the center’s operations, and by the Diplahan LGU, which allocates an annual budget for the center staff’s salaries.

Because the center has also been able to serve women in neighboring municipalities such as Payao and Titay, these LGUs have been encouraged to make in-kind contributions -- such as clothing -- to the center. (See Annex C for sample letter of solicitation)

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Matrix of Key Implementation Steps

Key Implementation Expected Outputs Person/ Budget/ Resources Required Steps Agency Responsible 1. Assessing and Consensus among LGU or NGO or Budget for initial meetings and recognizing the need to concerned jointly consultation, time, personnel set up a Center for stakeholders on and expense funds for data women and children the need for a gathering centers, commitments to push for the project

2. Obtaining executive Supporting LGU or NGO or Funds for meetings with and legislative support executive and jointly executive and legislative legislative officials instruments

3. Building partnerships Viable partnerships LGU, NGOs, other Individuals who will undertake built and resources stakeholders partnership-building activities mobilized by various partners Budget for meetings and consultations 4. Generating funds for A physical Php 100,000 center construction and structure that will operations serve as a center; budgets for the center’s operation

5. Developing Center P250,000 – Maryknoll Fathers organizational and management P750,000 – Abanse Pinay physical structures structure, trained Lot donation – 1,652 sq.m. personnel, physical P366,000 for staff salaries and building wages P250,000 – yearly operational expenses of the center P500,000 cost of the vehicle Personnel

6. Formulating and Operations Manual Center Time to be given by staff and implementing a Manual management and representatives of various of Operations staff; stakeholders for meetings and representatives of consultations to brainstorm and concerned refine the manual stakeholders 7. Conducting IEC IEC plan, IEC Time to be given by staff and campaign to raise materials representatives for conducting awareness on the IEC activities, budget for IEC center’s services expenses 8. Undertaking regular Monitoring and Time to be given by staff and monitoring and evaluation reports, representatives of various evaluation innovations/change stakeholders for monitoring and s made to improve evaluation activities performance 9. Ensuring sustainability

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Analysis and Lessons Learned: Confronting child and women abuse effectively

Diplahan’s experience in managing a center for women and children has provided project implementers with several insights on what critical elements spell success for such an endeavor. These insights are summarized below as possible guideposts for LGUs that may be interested in replicating or adapting Diplahan’s project in their own localities.

LGUs on a similar income class as Diplahan (2nd class) may be better able to replicate the project. LGUs with fewer resources may need to ensure that other stakeholders provide more resources. Regardless of income class, however, an LGU would need committed partners willing to provide resources (material, financial and otherwise) to the project for the medium and long term. This is because establishing and maintaining a center for abused women and children can demand much in terms of political will, financial costs (building, salaries and wages, operational costs, etc), material and non-material resources.

For this reason, a multi-stakeholder approach is a good way to undertake a project as various stakeholders can pool resources together; various groups can also be tapped because violence against women and children can be seen as a cross cutting concern. Diplahan’s experience illustrates multistakeholder collaboration at each key implementation step, from assessing the need for a center to generating the needed resources and sustaining the project for the long term.

Other key lessons learned in implementing a similar project include the following:

a. On ensuring official LGU support for the project

Especially when various stakeholders are involved, official support in the form of a resolution, ordinance or executive order may be needed to ensure the smooth implementation of the project as well as improve the prospects that it will be sustained. An LGU-wide gender sensitivity campaign can help ensure the full support of the LGU, including both the executive and legislative branches

b. On finding the best design for the center and its programs/services

Consultations among various partners may be needed to come up with technical decisions on the building design, and the facilities and equipment that will be needed in correspondence with the services to be provided. The following set of resource requirements may be considered, depending on the identified needs of an LGU:

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Lot where the center building can be constructed; in some cases, an existing unused or underused building may be temporarily designated as center site Funds for building design and construction Funds/contributions for center equipment, facilities (chairs, desks, beds, household/kitchen appliances, other furniture, linen, playroom and play equipment for children Vehicle/ambulance (this may be especially valuable for responding to emergencies and for LGUs with remote/inaccessible barangays that are not easily reached by public transport) Operational funds (including salaries, utilities, repair and maintenance of equipment, etc) c. On servicing clients

Instituting a holistic healing program for women and children survivors of abuse which addresses not only one aspect of their client’s situation/condition but the survivors’ entire range of emotional, physical, economic and social needs may be best for a center. This means providing not only immediate psychosocial or counseling services, but also serving material needs of clients on the short and medium term. Material assistance may include educational support for children of women clients as well as children referred to the center, training in home management skills to help women with domestic responsibilities, livelihood skills training to help improve women’s financial situations, character building, values education as well as formal education for children survivors of abuse, etc. d. On center management

Center management and staff should internalize the center’s mandate as a place of refuge and love. Thus, capacities for caring, patience and genuine concern for victims of abuse were made requirements in hiring staff for the Diplahan center. This same concern and caring for clients is amply demonstrated by the social welfare officer, assistants and house parents who implement the center’s programs and services. A competent, trained and multidisciplinary staff is needed to ensure effective functioning of the center; this includes having a resident psychologist/psychiatrist, a social worker, and a center manager A Manual of Operations can be very helpful as it can serve as a tool for directing and monitoring center performance, as well as an advocacy tool for generating additional resources

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

e. On promoting access to the center

An IEC campaign may be a valuable strategy in building awareness about the center and its services, encouraging victims to seek help and building greater sensitivity and vigilance among communities on the need to report and address abuse situations. The scope of such a campaign may be determined by the amount of resources available, the geographical area that is envisioned to be covered by the center, and the target clientele to be reached. Various methods may be used including a center launching, production and distribution of leaflets, community orientations, home visits, local radio ads and programs, megaphone announcements on roving pedicabs or other vehicles, etc. IEC methods can also be integrated/added on other LGU programs, such as health center activities, regular immunization and feeding drives, women’s month celebrations.

Who to contact if interested in replication:

Diplahan Mayor Eric Y. Palma Anabelle Tayurang, Diplahan MSWDO head Tel. (062) 991-3311; 09192287333

Annexes A. Center Services and Procedures B. Testimonies of Women and Children Assisted by the Center C. Sample letter of Solicitation

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Annex A: Testimonies of Women and Children Assisted by the Diplahan Center

Residents served by the center have been very grateful for the assistance they received. Below are excerpts of what they had to say about the center.

Ana G. Ariola, midwifery gradfuate battered live-in partner

“Malaki talaga ang aking pasasalamat. Mabuti ang pag-aasikaso sa amin. Mabait ang mga staff.. Maganda rin ang aming relasyon dito. Nakakakonsulta kami at nakakahingi ng advice habang binibigay sa amin ang mga basic na pangangailangan namin ng baby ko.”

Kaya lang, marami pa ring kulang dito. Ang mga bata na mahilig magbasa, walang libro.at ang mga pagkain at iba pa, mauubos din iyan. Buti sana marami pang agencies makaextend ng tulong dito.”

( I am, indeed greatly thankful. We are treated well here. The staff are kind. We have a good relationship here. We are able to consult and are given advice even as my needs as well as those of my baby are addressed. However, the center still lacks a lot of things. For instance, there are no books for children. And the food and other provisions of residents will be used up. It will be good if more agencies will extend help here.)

Aiza 13, raped by neighbor (perpetrator at large)

“Maayo ang batasan sa mga staff dinhi. Insakto ra among pagkaon. Ug gitrain mi sa mga trabaho sa panimalay, gipaeskuela sab mi.

Angay dili dibdibon sa mga na-rape ang nahitabo sa ila. Pero magpatabang gyod mi nga mapriso ang nakasala sa amo.”

(The staff are good natured. We have enough food. And we are trained to do household chores. But we really need help to put in prison those who have wronged us.)

Tintin, 7, raped by father at age 5 (perpetrator at large)

“Maayo ang pag-atiman sa amo”. (We are taken care of well here.)

Lormyjane, 12, raped by father, mothered a child (perpetrator at large)

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

“Maayo ang nahitabo sa ako diri. Nahatagan ko ug dakong paglaum. Kanunay man mi gitambagan. Nia pod diri akong duha ka mga igsoon. Patay na man god among mama.”

(Good things happened to me here. I have developed so much hope. We are always given good advice. I also have my two brothers here. My mother died already.)

Melissa, 19, child trafficking victim, brought to Malaysia as sex slave at age 16 (perpetrator at large)

“I thank the center for giving us a chance to grow and develop despite our past mistakes and negative experience. Nagpasalamat ko’g dako nga gipaeskuela ko. Basta nagtoo ko makabawi pa ko sa mga nasayang sa ako kaniadto.”(I thank them so much because they sent me to school. Truly, I believe, I can still regain what I’ve lost before.)

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Annex B: Diplahan Center Services and Procedures

Center Services and Procedures:

The Diplahan center observes the following procedure in assisting clients:

a. Upon admission, walk-in clients are interviewed and provided bed, food, clothing and medical services and oriented on house rules and regulations. This is done by the SWO with Municipal Health Office’s (MHO) assistance.

b. Further data gathering on socio-economic and medical information of the client. This is conducted by the SWO and MHO staff and methods can include interviews with the clients, friends and family members, home visits, and physical, psychiatric and psychological examinations.

C. Design of treatment/rehabilitation plan for each client based on results of consultation with staff, client and family; and case conference by the assigned SWO with MSWDO with the mayor’s approval;

D. Implementation of the treatment/rehabilitation plan focusing on the delivery of appropriate protection and rehabilitation services based on clients’ needs. This is undertaken by the assigned SWO with house parents, concerned LGU departments and external agencies like the DepEd, DTI, religious organizations, Malangas Municipal Trial Court and government hospitals/MHOs.

The Diplahan Center’s services consist of: Residential care; individual and group counseling; maternal and child care which includes environmental sanitation, self-care, early childhood development, growth monitoring and immunization and nutrition which are done by the SWOs and house parents. Nutrition services include ensuring a balanced diets, by the regular provision of milk and supplemental vitamins as victims learn and practice personal hygiene and interpersonal skills

Livelihood development through sheltered workshops, subcontract jobs and leadership/management development by the SWO in coordination with DTI. Here, residents receive practicum on swine raising and vegetable gardening and sewing

Self-enhancement through ego building, stress reduction and crisis management, sports development, values development/ reorientation and socialization; and community participation skills development through center and school activities. At the center, sessions are held for sharing experiences and stress debriefing by residents. Those with traumatic experiences are allowed to have time to themselves under close supervision by the SWO or a house parent

Spiritual enrichment/renewal by religious organizations who visit the center at least once a week

Legal services with Municipal Trial Court’s assistance. This is especially needed in the case of incest and rape victims and battered wives who decide to file cases against their violators. So far, with the help of the

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Malangas Municipal Trial Court, five (5) incest and rape cases had already been filed since the center started operating

Medical services by government hospitals and MHO staff consisting of medical treatment and pre/post natal care for rape, incest and wife battering victims

Educational development through the DepEd and schools. Residents of school age are enrolled in prep, elementary and high schools

After care services conducted by SWOs, in coordination with client’s families/relatives and with the help of Barangay Committees for the Protection of Women and Children.

While the victims primarily receive the center’s counselling and professional services especially in overcoming trauma brought about by their experiences, close kin also attend sessions conducted by center staff among them on gender sensitivity to enable them to assist victims while visiting the center and even after the discharge of victims from the center. Husbands of battered wives who underwent gender sensitivity sessions and have reunited with their spouses reportedly improved their relationship with them.

E. Determining client and receiving family readiness for client discharge based on feedback from field office reports and conduct of pre discharge conference. This is cooperatively done by the SWO, SWA, house parents

F. Discharge of clients to families, or for employment, or transfer to other institutions for further treatment and case termination. So far, 16 battered wives, strandees, abandoned and neglected children have already been reunited with their families

G. Follow-up of discharged clients for updating, referral and counseling, where needed. Center concern for clients does not end with their discharge to ensure that clients are still assisted and referred to relevant groups for assistance.

The center’s services are handled by the following departments: legal/paralegal, livelihood and rehabilitation and psychiatric assistance; and education and training.

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Center for Abused Women and Children: Multi-stakeholder Approach to Gender Concerns DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

Annex C: Sample Letter of Solicitation

LGU Letterhead

Proforma Letter to Solicit Support for the Center

Date Addressee: ______

Dear ______,

Greetings!

The Center of Concern for Abused Women and Children in this municipality has been operating since 2002 to shelter, protect and rehabilitate victims of abuse to enable them to regain self- dignity, develop themselves and become more productive constituents. Catering to the needs of women and children victims of rape, incest, wife battering, neglect/abandonment and child trafficking, the center already assisted already 91 victims. Beneficiaries, in fact, testified of the care and assistance they received, the skills and good relationships they developed, education they gained and their regaining self-worth and dignity as persons with the center’s sheltering and professional services.

While the center is getting regular support from LGUs, there are a number of needs the center has inadequately met since it started operating. Thus the need for more supporters especially those for food, library equipment and materials, center furnishings and funds for livelihood development and funds for the recruitment of a regular psychologists, among others.

For more about the center, please refer to the attached story and testimonies of center residents.

Relative to this, we are appealing for your help. It will go along way in enabling us improve our center services delivery.

We look forward to hearing your positive response. Thank you. More power!

Sincerely,

ERIC Y. PALMA Mayor

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