Figure 31: Reported VAWC cases from 2017 to 2019 Source: Philippine National Police This trend also holds true for cases related to VAWC. Reported VAWC cases from 2017 to 2019 reduced by 25 percent, although it slightly increased by 7 percent from 2018 to 2019. Regional VAW Incidence In 2019, Region VII or Central Visayas had the highest reported VAWC cases at 3,186. The reported VAWC cases in 2019 in the region’s provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu as well in the cities of Cebu and Lapulapu have increased significantly, as shown in Table 19. Table 19: VAWC cases in Region VII Province/City Negros Oriental Bohol Cebu Province 245 404 435 732 718 707 Cebu City Lapu-Lapu City Mandaue City Siquijor Total 352 97 84 16 1,633 586 327 88 28 3,186 Source: Philippine National Police 2018 2019 The National Capital Region ranked second highest with a total of 1,554 reported VAWC cases in 2019, lower than 1,731 reported cases in 2018. Western Visayas ranked third with 1,552 VAWC cases in 2019 and 1,567 in 2018. Region 1V-A or CALABARZON ranked fourth with 1,162 reported VAWC cases. Surprisingly, Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) registered the highest percentage (110%) of increase in reported VAWC cases from 534 cases in 2018 to 1,126 in 2019. National Demographic Health Survey Data on VAW Since 2008, the NDHS has consistently established that VAW reporting is extremely low. In 2017, for instance, NDHS results show that only 34 percent of those who have experienced physical or sexual violence sought help. When asked who they approached for help, 93 percent said they reached out to family members, friends, or neighbors. Only six percent claimed to have reported to the police. PNP records show that the total reported VAW cases in 2017 is 25,572. However, if the national prevalence rate of recent experience of spousal violence is at 15 percent, then there were about 2.53 million women who experienced violence 86 2019 Annual Report Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012