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New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin, Jr. and Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy lead the cutting of the ribbon during the Women-Friendly Space opening in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.
New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin, Jr. and Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy lead the cutting of the ribbon during the Women-Friendly Space opening in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

To protect the women and children and cater to their special needs during disasters, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched the first women-friendly space in Davao Region.

The women-friendly space will serve as a safe ‘haven’ for women. It is open to all pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. It will be operational as long as there are internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the evacuation centers. This space is also the venue for the conduct of psycho-social services.

“We don’t stop being women because there is a disaster, the DSWD and UNFPA want to make sure that women’s needs are met,” emphasized the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Ugochi Daniels.

 

Dr. Ma. Asuncion Silvestre, a neonatologist of the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in Manila and chairperson of the Breastfeeding Committee and member of the Board of Trustee of the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine helps pregnant women prepare for their first stages of labor and motherhood and infant feeding in emergencies at the Women-Friendly Space in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.
Dr. Ma. Asuncion Silvestre, a neonatologist of the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in Manila and chairperson of the Breastfeeding Committee and member of the Board of Trustee of the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine helps pregnant women prepare for their first stages of labor and motherhood and infant feeding in emergencies at the Women-Friendly Space in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

The UNFPA introduced the idea of opening the women-friendly space to the DSWD during the ‘Sendong’ devastation in Cagayan de Oro City.

The DSWD, however, explained that they are not putting the men in the back seat, they just recognize that women have special needs.

“This women center is built to cater to the special needs of women. Bisan luyo sa mga kalisod, padayon gihapon nato nga amumahon ang kalawasan sa mga babaye ug mga bata (Despite the difficulties, we will continue to respond to the hygiene needs of our women and children),” promised Governor Uy.

Other Local Government Units (LGUs) can replicate or institutionalize the women-friendly space.  “We are encouraging everyone to please let us know if the women-friendly space is helpful, how it has helped, and how it can be more helpful,” asked UNFPA Country Representative Daniels.

Stationed in Cabinuangan Central Elementary School in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, the launching of the women-friendly space was witnessed by Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy, New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin, Jr., UNFPA Country Representative Ugochi Daniels, World Health Organization (WHO) Consultant Dr. Ma. Asuncion Silvestre and DSWD Focal Person for Families and Women Merlinda A. Paragamac.

As of January 7, there are 2,084 persons staying in 17 evacuation centers in New Bataan, Compostela Valley of whom 35 are lactating mothers, 11 are pregnant women, 965 are 0-18 years old, 55 are senior citizens and 8 are persons with disabilities. ###