•
Ensure the inclusion of hygiene and menstrual health kits in the government provided relief
goods;
•
Ensure con6nued access and availability of family planning and reproduc6ve health
commodi6es through the Barangay Health Centers and through other interven6ons, this
include provision of alterna6ve measures of ensure accessibility of pills and other family
planning commodi6es for women;
•
Ensure protec6on of Barangay Health Workers, as community frontliners in the response to
COVID-19, including the provision of face masks, PPEs in cases where necessary, and the
provision of Hazard pay;
•
Adop6on of a strategy to ensure access of pregnant women to ante and post-natal care
during the ECQ period with corresponding precau6ons to protect them from risks of
exposures;
•
Priori6za6on of the most vulnerable and at risk including persons with disabili6es, the
elderly, solo parents, pregnant women, etc.;
•
Recognizing women and girls’ mul6ple burden during ECQ, ensuring con6nuous and
uninterrupted water supply; Food security through provision of relief and other safety nets;
mobility and access to essen6al services such as public markets, pharmacies, clinics, and
hospitals;
•
Ensuring that persons of diverse SOGIE and their families are able to access government
support and that there is zero tolerance for discrimina6on on the basis of SOGIESC in
accessing government support and safety nets;
•
Ensuring accessible informa6on on government programs and support as provided under
the Bayanihan We Heal as One Act; The announcement of programs from the government
under the law has created a clamour among communi6es for enhanced and accessible
informa6on dissemina6on on (1) what benefits are available; (b) who are en6tled to
benefits; (c) what are the process and documentary requirements; (d) where the benefits
can be availed; ( e) when they may be available at the Barangay level; and (f) who to contact
in case of further queries and complaints etc.
Inclusion of concrete strategies to address incidents of GBV during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Recognizing that health crisis compound exis6ng gender inequali6es and increase risks of gender-based
violence and sexual exploita6on and abuse; Recognizing that the pressure to respond to COVID-19 may
disrupt care and support for Gender-Based Violence survivors, and that in 6mes of crisis, referral
networks and access to jus6ce in cases of GBV may be disrupted8, the Commission commends the
issuance of an advisory by Undersecretary Mar6n S. Dino, direc6ng that all Barangays ensure the
func6onality of all their Barangay VAW Desks and Barangay Council for the Protec6on For Children. The
Commission also commends the advisory to ensure protec6on and response to women and children
vic6ms of violence during the ECQ period. To further enhance and opera6onalize the said advisory, and
to elevate the same to the level of a memorandum circular, the Commission forwards the following
recommenda6ons for the Hon. Secretary’s considera6on:
8
RRCE. Community Engagement