I. Background
As one of the annual activities of the Gender-Based Observatory Project
of the Commission on Human Rights, in compliance with its mandate as the
Philippines’ Gender Ombud, this Office conducted two (2) focus group
discussions (FGDs) with different sectors that include, inter alia, community
women and government agencies on 06 November 2020 and 20 November 2020
via Zoom meeting, to map GBV referral mechanisms within Batangas.
This Office has selected to interview women from the Regional Haven for
Women and Girls (RHWG) located at Rosario, Batangas. RHWG is a
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – residential care
facility for women and girls who are survivors of violence and abuses. The
facility houses victim survivors of violence from different cities and
municipalities within CALABARZON. A total of ten (10) women agreed to be
participants in the said FGD.
Similarly, the focus group discussion for service providers or participants
from government agencies was done concurrently with the Regional Webinar
where the results of the interview with community women were discussed.
Invitations participate in the activity and to accomplish the survey questions to
different government agencies, particularly from the DSWD, Provincial Social
Welfare and Development of Batangas, Family Court of Batangas, Department
of Local and Interior Government (DILG) – Provincial Office in Batangas, Public
Attorney’s Office – Batangas District Office, Batangas Police Provincial Office,
Office of the Provincial Prosecutor – Batangas, Women and Children Protection
Desk and RHWG were sent but only participants from DILG Provincial Office
and RHWG heeded to our request.
II. Focus Group Discussion with Community Women
A. Introduction
The interview started with the introduction of Atty. Mila Punzalan
Sobreviňas. She discussed the role of Commission of Human Rights (CHR) as
CHR: Dignity of all
Address: 2F Mary Grace Building Colago Avenue cor. M.L. Quezon St., Barangay I-A
San Pablo City, Laguna 4000
Contact numbers: (049)562-5415/ 09156920530/ 09396384786
E-mail: chr4_sanpablo@yahoo.com
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