By Dave G. Malcampo
ZAMBOANGA CITY – To equip Pantawid Pamilya
workers from the cities of Zamboanga and Isabela with knowledge and skills in
handling gender-based violence (GBV) cases in their assigned communities, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-9 has conducted recently a
training for city links at the DSWD Conference Room along Gen. Vicente Alvarez
this city.
DSWD’s Gender and Development (GAD) focal person Leonora
Barahim said that this activity was an offshoot from barangay-based focused group
discussions that brought up issues involving gender-based violence such as
battered wives, child abuse, pornography and others. “We believe that the city
links can do a lot to respond to these issues,” Barahim said.
The DSWD also emphasized the referral mechanisms that are
in place with the city links.
Barahim said that as social workers, city links should be
equipped not only to properly refer these cases, but to provide the appropriate
interventions when necessary. (with reports from
Shiela May Aquino)