By Joseph Pedrajas
A total of 335 cases of violence against women and children have been reported in Quezon City since the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in March.
Citing data from the city's Gender and Development Office and reports from barangay authorities, the QC government said it includes physical, sexual, psychological, verbal and economical abuses.
The Quezon City Police District, on the other hand disclosed to have likewise received a total of 74 cases of violence against women and children during the period of lockdown.
Because of this, the local government has started prioritizing the construction of a protection shelter for the victims and activated a crisis help line and online support groups, as response to the problem.
“This pandemic has revealed to us the gaps that we need to address in terms of women and children violence. We have been getting reports of individuals who want to leave their homes but do not have anywhere else to go,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Belmonte said the city will soon have a shelter or half-way house under the QC Protection Center (QCPC) that will accept and protect women and children escaping from violence.
The center will also offer free counseling and legal advice to victims through the city's hotline and online platforms.
“Ang pang-aabuso ay walang pinipiling oras . It can happen anytime. So we want to extend services that will attend to women anytime they need, especially if they are in immediate danger,” Belmonte added.
The QCPC already extended assistance to some of the victims and provided them with free legal, medical, and psychological assistance and intervention, according to the local government.
The victims were also included in the Tindahan ni Ate Joy livelihood program, which gives sari-sari store start-up packages to single parents.