DILG tells LGUs: Strictly enact ordinances aligned with the 'Safe Space Act'
By Chito Chavez

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to continue ensuring their constituents' safety against any act of profanity or malicious behavior.
In a statement, the DILG said this is a responsibility of the LGUs under the Republic Act (RA) No. 11313, or the “Safe Space Act", including the enactment of ordinances to ensure and maintain law in order on the streets and other public places.
To ensure its full implementation, the DILG noted that the LGUs must have “functional’’ closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on major roads, thoroughfares and sidewalks that are vital in filing cases, gathering of pieces of evidence and even in the prevention of gender-based sexual harassment.
The DILG also asserted that the LGUs should deploy traffic enforcers and other local law enforcement units to be “Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers’’ who undergo “Sexual-Sensitivity Training’’ and other related orientation practices.
It added that every city or municipality should have “Anti-Sexual Harassment Desk’’ that will receive complaints and facilitate the their process of gender-based sexual harassment reports in public places.
Further, the DILG pointed out that 2024 marks the 12th year since the passage of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act or Republic Act (RA) 9262, which is a landmark legislation in the country aimed in addressing and preventing domestic violence against women and children.
“This year’s National Women’s Month Celebration, the department is one with the country in highlighting significant strides in the country’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and other sexual and gender orientations,’’ the DILG emphasized.