- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez is being urged to establish a temporary shelter for abused women and children, as well as a rape crisis center, in the city.
Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Women, Gender, Family, and Childcare, said that currently, Bacolod does not have a center that can cater to the needs of victim-survivors.
She stressed that “it is important to have a place of refuge for our victim-survivors where they will not only be provided with shelter, but also other assistance and services that they might need.”
Flor, in her resolution approved by the SP recently, said Section 3 of Republic Act 8505, or the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998, provides for the establishment of a rape crisis center in every city, where victims could be provided with psychological counseling, medical and health services, including their medico-legal examination, and free legal assistance or service.
RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, also provides for the mandatory programs and services for victims, including the establishment of temporary shelters, counseling, psycho-social services and/or recovery, rehabilitation programs and livelihood assistance, the councilor added.
“In line with the commitment of the city to be a safe space for all Bacolodnons, it is only right that we establish this long overdue center,” Flor added./CGC
