DFA CO Puerto Princesa Spearheads Multi-Sectoral Activities for the 18-Day End VAW Campaign
Head of Consular Office (HCO) Liza Jane Estalilla (5th from left); Ms. Efrel Pinero, GAD Focal Point Officer (extreme left) and Ms. Dannah Rachel Pilpil, Alternate GAD Focal Point Officer (extreme right) of CO Puerto Princesa enjoin passport applicants in the Kick-Off Program for the 18-Day Campaign to END VAW held on 25 November 2024.
PUERTO PRINCESA 18 December 2024 – DFA CO Puerto Princesa enjoined various agencies in a series of activities to mark its observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (End VAW).
On 25 November 2024, the CO kicked off its End VAW Campaign by holding a program for its passport applicants to underscore the need for society to unite in protecting women and children from all forms of violence. Whistles were given to passport applicants as a symbolic manifestation of CO Puerto Princesa’s resolve to call everyone’s attention to stop being passive bystanders, to have women and children’s voices heard, and get them all to act courageously to end VAW.
To further drum up the campaign, CO personnel displayed the End VAW icon in their FB profiles and wore orange shirts on Fridays during the campaign period from 25 November -12 December 2024.
On 11 December 2024, the CO organized a Children’s Book Reading entitled “Ayaw Ko Po Sana” and a Self-Defense Training and Mental Wellness Orientation Program for one hundred fourteen (114) Grade 4, 5 and 6 students and eleven (11) teachers of Manuel Austria Memorial Elementary School. This exercise was designed to equip them with the right mindset and basic skills on how to avoid sexual assaults, kidnapping, and other forms of violence. High incidents of sexual assaults, many of which are incestuous in nature, have been observed in the Province lately. It was also noted that some of the victims are children of OFWs.
Police Chief Master Sergeant Mary Grace M. Cabrestante of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk, Police Non-Commissioned Office (WCPD PNCO), and Police Staff Sergeant Niño B. Baylon of the Puerto Princesa City Police Station 2 conducted the self-defense training while the Mental Wellness Orientation was facilitated by Mr. Francisco III O. Baluyut, a registered psychometrician and Supervising Administrative Officer of Palawan State University. Also present were representatives of the Palawan Provincial Government’s Social Welfare Development Office, Public Information Office, and members of the Palawan Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (PIACAT-Palawan) as well as the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Puerto Princesa Peacock, Oil and Balayong Local Chapters. The students and partner agencies capped off the morning activities with a colorful parade with orange balloons and End VAW signages around Robinsons Mall Palawan.
This was followed by the Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-Abroad? Seminar for OFWs and Emigrants, CO Puerto Princesa’s flagship GAD program, that it conducts quarterly for passport applicants and individuals planning to work overseas in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Public Employment Service Office of Puerto Princesa (PESO. The seminar was attended by one hundred twenty five (125) participants from different municipalities and government offices in Palawan.
The 2024 End VAW Campaign ended with the launching of the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-Abroad?” Booklet that contains useful tips on working and living overseas with information on the various services of the DFA-DMW-OWWA-DTI-TESDA-City PESO Team. END
Students of the Manuel Austria Memorial Elementary School (MAMES) using their whistles to try out the distress call or SOS code demonstrated to them by Police Staff Sergeant Niño B. Baylon of the Philippine National Police
Students of the Manuel Austria Memorial Elementary School pose for a souvenir photo with their teachers and the organizers of the Book Reading and Self-Defense Seminar for Women and Children held on 11 December 2024 at Robinsons Place Palawan
HCO Liza Jane Estalilla (center) and Police Major Maribel Serag Ustares, Head of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Palawan Police Provincial Office, take the lead in the End VAW Parade held on 11 December 2024 at the Robinsons Mall Palawan
Passport applicants and other aspiring OFWs displaying their Certificates of Participation in the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” Seminar held on 11 December 2024 at Robinsons Palawan
The DFA-DMW-OWWA-DTI-TESDA-City PESO Team capped this year’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women with the launching of the “Handa Ka Na Bang Mag-abroad?” Booklet. From left to right: Ms. Dannah Rachel Pilpil (Asst. GAD Focal Point Officer CO-PPC)), Mr. Merwin Conde (Passport Supervisor- CO-PPC), Mr. Francis Ian Uapal (DTI), Mr. Rudy Payo and Ms. Adignita Elijan (OWWA), HCO Liza Jane Estalilla, Mr. Jayson Padin (DMW), Ms Mary Grace Francisco (TESDA), and Ms. Mary Glor Simon (City PESO).