Vice-Governor Anne Marie Commends CSWDO

Olongapo First Lady and Zambales Vice-Governor Anne Marie Gordon has commended the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for its feat in the 2009 Search for the Outstanding Violence Against Women (VAW)-Responsive Local Government Unit.

The said competition is a year-long search being conducted by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women in Asia-Pacific (CATW-AP).

“From the 12 nominees , Olongapo, thru the joint efforts of the CSWDO, City Council Committee on Women and organized women’s groups, clinched the second place for the city’s dedication to violence against women campaigns, women empowerment and gender development programs,” explained Vice-Governor Anne Marie Gordon, a known advocate of children and women’s rights and welfare.

It can be recalled that Olongapo First Lady and Zambales Vice-Governor Anne Marie, pioneered the establishment of the Center for Women in the city, a temporary refuge for battered women that provides rescue, counseling, training, livelihood and medical assistance, sheltering and administration of justice to abused victims. Records show that as of end of October 2009, the Center for Women served a total of 184 women with VAWC cases where 44 were provided with temporary shelter, 15 filed formal complaints, 10 have on-going court trials while five have pending cases at the City Prosecutor’s Office.

“We can end Violence Against Women (VAW). This social issue does not just involve women, but also men and more importantly children and families, the core of human societies. Hence, we must all work together to battle this problem,” she added.

Pao/sara