strengthening local women’s organizations. Specific programs include critical engagement with government and engendering the barangay justice system, The WLB undertakes critical engagement with the government through the following interventions. It demands from the State, as duty bearer accountable to the people, the obligation to promote, protect and fulfill women’s rights. It also lobbies for the passage of laws, ordinances, executive orders (EOs), among others that will ensure women’s realization of their human rights. It also works to influence and transform corrupt, inefficient and sexist government. The WLB through its program on Engendering the Barangay Justice System (EBJS) directly engages grassroots women and communities and aims to make justice more accessible to poor and marginalized women by: (1) advocating for local laws and policies promoting women’s human rights and influencing local legislative process; (2) developing and supporting capacities of community women and their organizations for leadership and in engaging in feminist legal advocacy; and (3) building the body of knowledge and developing tools and resources for community-based women’s organizations and local partners. The EBJS also focuses on developing critical partnerships with local government units and agencies that supports and actively facilitates women’s organizing in their localities. The EJBS program experience has so far involved the following: (1) Engendering and gender sensitizing local governance and justice systems in one Barangay in Marikina and one in Santolan, Pasig; (2) Enhancing capacities of grassroots women on legal advocacy and local governments in Marikina City; (3) Strengthening capacities for women’s leadership and advocating for Gender and Development Ordinance; (4) Increasing women’s access to justice of local women in Zambales; and, (5) Strengthening local women and young women’s organizations in Zambales, Samar, and Masbate. In general, the WLB’s work went beyond the legal advocacy into other issues confronting women including specific rights, access to justice, livelihood and others. To illustrate the results, gains and strategies used in the WLB work, the presentation discussed in length the Marikina experience under the WLB program from 2007 through 2015. For one, Marikina has the highest physical abuse cases and through the EBJS has the following results: 2007-2009  The local women leaders drafted a legislative proposal establishing and defining the function of the VAW desk and was later on adopted as a barangay resolution. Local women leaders presented the proposed ordinance to the community, and then to the Barangay Council,  through a community-wide consultation.  Local women leaders were trained as paralegals and was appointed as VAW Desk Officers and women support group at the barangay level 2010  Passage of a Barangay Resolution for the installation of a Women’s desk at Malanday, separate from the complaints desk at the PCP, in compliance with RA 9262 Law.  Local women leaders lobbied for a separate and private room or corner for women victims/complainants of VAWC. 27