TACLOBAN CITY- “Vow and act on freeing your communities from violence against women (VAW),” is the call of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ D. Sueno to local government units (LGUs) nationwide.
Sueno said this as the nationwide commemoration of this year’s “18-Day Campaign to End VAW” is approaching its commencement date on November 25 and is set to culminate on December 12, 2016 with the theme “VAW-Free Community Starts with Me”.
In a directive, Sueno enjoins all LGUs to observe the 18-Day Campaign in their respective localities and initiate activities for synchronized efforts to reinforce the theme in line with the pronouncements of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address to put an end to VAW and implement the Magna Carta of Women down to the barangay-level.
“I urge LGUs to commit and contribute to pursuing the common vision of having VAW-free communities in the Philippines. Let us sustain the consistent high ranking of the country in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap Report,” he said.
In the said report of the WEF, the Philippines closes over 78% of its total gender gap and ranks first in Asia and seventh out of 144 countries in the world.
Sueno encourages LGUs to collaborate with the Department of Tourism (DOT) through its regional offices for the “Orange Your Icon” advocacy.
Since most of the tourism sites and attractions in the country are under the jurisdiction of local governments, LGUs are asked to prepare the participation of icons and retain its orange decor throughout the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW.
LGUs may use flags, streamers or banners; paint their landmark orange if possible; use orange spotlights at night; or any other creative ways of making it orange without violating any existing policies or regulations regarding the preservation and maintenance of said icons.
Orange is chosen by the DOT and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) because it is a bright and optimistic color representing hope and a future free from VAW. (PR)
