In line with the observance of the 2023 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), NAMRIA, through its Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS), conducted a fora on Republic Act number 11313, also known as The Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law.

 

Attended by select public high school teachers and students, the fora were conducted in two sessions on 12 December 2023. The morning session was held at the cyberlab of Sen. Renato "Companero" Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (SRCCMSTHS), Pamayanang Diego Silang, Ususan, Taguig City while the afternoon session was held at the auditorium of Raja Soliman Science and Technology High School (RSSTHS), Urbiztondo St., San Nicolas, Manila.

 

NAMRIA GFPS (NGFPS) Executive Committee Chairperson, NAMRIA Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Deputy Administrator (DA) Ofelia T. Castro delivered the opening/welcome remarks in both sessions and thanked all those who attended. She acknowledged the support by NAMRIA Administrator, Usec. Peter N. Tiangco, PhD, SRCCMSTHS OIC-Principal Quinn Norman O. Arreza, and RSSTHS Principal Raffy V. Caballes for allowing the NGFPS to present the salient features of RA 11313, and for doing their part to enhance awareness on gender-based sexual harassment (GBHS).

 

NGFPS Secretariat Assistant Focal Person (AFP) Leah Katrina A. Angeles then presented RA 11313 to the attendees. AFP Angeles started her presentation by showing one of the Philippine Commission on Women-produced information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign materials for the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW entitled "Ang Kwento ni Ella." After this, she lectured on all forms of GBHS committed in public spaces, educational or training institutions, workplaces, and online spaces. She answered questions from the attendees during the open forum part of the program and handed out prizes to those who successfully answered her trivia questions on RA 11313.

 

In response to the sessions conducted, SRCCMSTHS Brigada Eskwela Coordinator-Teacher Patrick B. Ribano, on behalf of SRCCMSTHS OIC-Principal Arreza, and RSSTHS Principal Caballes thanked NAMRIA for providing information on RA 11313 to their teachers and students. They also encouraged their students to be more vigilant against GBSH and report to the school authorities should there be any case of it happening within their schools. In addition, RSSTHS Principal Caballes noted that their senior high school teachers were already trained and made fully aware on RA 11313.

 

In her closing remarks, NGFPS Technical Working Group (TWG) Chairperson, Geospatial Information System Management Branch OIC-Assistant Director Arlene B. Brillantes thanked those who attended and actively participated in the discussions. She also encouraged all the attendees to share with their fellow students and friends the learnings acquired.

 

Tokens of appreciation were given out when the sessions ended. The NGFPS, NGFPS Secretariat AFP Angeles, and NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Jeffrey A. Quodala each received framed certificates of appreciation from SRCCMSTHS and RSSTHS while the NGFPS awarded SRCCMSTHS, RSSTHS, NGFPS Secretariat AFP Angeles, and NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Quodala with framed certificates of appreciation. The attendees were given brochures on RA 11313 and end VAW advocacy facemasks in appreciation for their attendance.

 

NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Quodala served as coordinator and emcee/facilitator in both sessions. NGFPS TWG on IEC member Erwin D. Famatiga; NGFPS Secretariat Head Focal Person (HFP) Jeanevie T. Habitan and members Mary Ann M. De Belen and Seaman 3rd Class Keith C. Lagunday; and Jonathan B. Flores of the Transport Management Section-Engineering Services Division (ESD) provided documentation and logistical support to the activities.

 

In a related activity, NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Quodala and Secretariat HFP Habitan served as resource persons in the Orientation on Gender Sensitivity and Gender Laws for Newly-Hired Employees. The day-long orientation was held at the lecture hall of the NAMRIA Fort Bonifacio Office, Taguig City on 11 December 2023.

 

NGFPS-TWG on IEC AFP Quodala discussed various gender concepts using the module produced by the Civil Service Institute of the Civil Service Commission. The module has five parts, namely: Introduction, Sex and Gender, MaSaLi (Magulang, Salinlahi, at Lipunan), Manifestations of Gender Bias, and Ritwal. Under the Sex and Gender part, stages and institutions that contribute to various gender issues were discussed comprehensively. NGFPS Secretariat HFP Habitan discussed the salient features of RA 11313, including the guidelines of the creation of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation, which serves as an independent internal mechanism to address and investigate complaints of sexual harassment. Questions were answered by NGFPS-TWG on IEC AFP Quodala and Secretariat HFP Habitan during the open forum part of the orientation. At the end of the orientation, certificates and tokens of appreciation were awarded to NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Quodala and Secretariat HFP Habitan.

 

The NGFPS TWG on Training members Annalyn P. Perez and Precious M. Navarro facilitated the conduct of the orientation. Assisting them were Ma. Jesabel M. Ramos, Jena Karl D. Descalzo, and Jessa Mae R. Ilao of the Human Resource Development Section-Administrative Division and Benefredo V. Inlao and Marlon O. Diaz of the Instrumentation and Communication Section-ESD. All pictures used in this article were taken by NGFPS TWG on IEC AFP Quodala.