The Commission recommends the adop6on of a policy to ensure that the Local Government’s response to COVID-19 includes as a key component, ensuring effec6ve and prompt response and interven6ons to cases of GBV, specifically, the following are recommended: • For LGUs to ensure the func6onality of their GBV Referral Mechanisms during the ECQ period, including ensuring the ability of Barangay VAW Desks and PNP Women’s Desks to respond to cases of GBV and to assist complainants as incidents of GBV occur; • For LGUs, down to the Barangay level to adopt a strategy on providing necessary support and temporary shelter for women and girls, or persons of diverse SOGIE at risk of violence or already vic6ms of violence, this include providing transporta6on and legal assistance in case of repor6ng, iden6fying temporary shelters for gender-based violence survivors and their children during the ECQ period9, referral to medical and/or psychosocial support; • In view of the overburdened ter6ary and primary hospitals, for LGUs and the local PNP to update referral GBV referral pathways, iden6fying clinics and/or hospitals able to provide medical response to GBV cases without risk of exposure; • For LGUs and the local Philippine Na6onal Police to adopt a separate GBV Hotline and to track reports and responses to GBV during the ECQ period; • For LGUs and the PNP to widely disseminate updated referral pathways and hotline numbers; • To emphasize for LGUs, the PNP and other key components of the GBV referral mechanism, the need for accessible and urgent response to GBV, as mobility during ECQ is severely constrained, and those at risk are closely confined with alleged perpetrators; and to further reiterate the importance of gender sensi6ve handling of cases of GBV; It is the Commission’s hope that the following recommenda6ons will be duly considered in the adop6on of policies to guide Local Government Units and the Philippine Na6onal Police in their response to COVID-19. We appreciate the Honorable Secretary’s prompt response in providing LGU guidance for persons with disability, we are hopeful, that these recommenda6ons pertaining to gender-responsive and intersec6onal interven6ons, and these recommenda6ons on ensuring func6onality of referral mechanisms and responses to GBV, will also receive posi6ve ac6ons on your part. Thank you! Best Regards, KAREN S. GOMEZ-DUMPIT Focal Commissioner on Women and LGBTI In countries like France, the government has iden6fied partner hotels as temporary shelters for GBV survivors; Partnership with support CSOs in the LGU can also be considered; 9