TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – The Provincial Gender And Development Committee (PGAD) in cooperation with the Region 10 office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development office (DSWD 10), the women and children complaint desk of the Lanao del Norte police provincial office, social workers of the local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), village leaders and other line agencies in the province to intensify the commitment to provide immense advocacy and awareness on laws against violence and abuses on women and children in the society.

The forum was conducted to ensure that these laws were advocated effectively by the respective agencies, and verify mandated functions if they have been carried out in the formation of systems in the prevention and interventions.

If a scenario may arise, to evaluate programs and projects for rehabilitation.

“The creation of Republic Act (RA) 7610, known as the Anti-Child Abuse Law, RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act of 2003, and RA 9262, known as the Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, encouraged everybody to get involved if we happen to encounter women and children who have been victims of violence and being maltreated in their homes and some in the place they lived in to report and refer the case to the nearest police station or DSWD office for legal assistance of the victims,” said Annabelle Mendez, acting provincial social welfare and development officer.

It was being suggested in the forum that there is a need for the province of Lanao del Norte to have its own crisis center to assist the victims while the cases are on the process.