IACVAWC Resolution No. 2, s. 2018

FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF RA 9262 AS OPERATIONALIZED IN THE IACVAWC STRATEGIC PLAN, 2017-2022

WHEREAS, RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 was enacted in accordance with the State policy that values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for human rights and recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women and children, from violence and threats to their personal safety and security;

WHEREAS, Rule VIII of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 9262, outlines the specific duties and responsibilities of government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and concerned government officials and employees as regard the implementation of the law which includes prosecutors, court personnel, barangay officials, and health care personnel;

WHEREAS, the establishment of an Inter-agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (IACVAWC) was provided for under Rule IX of the IRR, the national mechanism mandated to ensure the effective implementation of the law and serve as the lead coordinator and monitoring body on VAWC initiatives;

WHEREAS, the IACVAWC is composed of 12 member agencies: DSWD, CSC, CHR, NCRFW, now PCW, CWC, DOJ, DILG, PNP, DOH, DepEd, DOLE, and NBI are tasked to develop and implement programs and projects to eliminate violence against women which includes, but not limited to the promotion of Anti-VAWC Act, capability building of stakeholders, comprehensive program for VAWC victim-survivors, networking with other stakeholders, monitoring of the implementation of the Act, and research on the integrated approach to eliminate VAWC and nature and root causes of VAWC;

WHEREAS, to operationalize the provisions of RA 9262, the IACVAWC developed its third Strategic Plan for 2017-2022 which is based on the assessment of previous strategic plans, results of regional consultations, and the specific programs and activities provided for in the IRR;

WHEREAS, there is a need for member-agencies and heads of other concerned departments and agencies to include in their annual agency appropriations beginning 2019 onwards the funding necessary to implement programs and services identified in the Plan;

WHEREAS, this funding requirement is in line with Section 64 which further provides that all concerned departments including their attached agencies, offices, state colleges and universities, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and LGUs shall prioritize the use of their GAD Budget for services and programs for VAWC victim-survivors as well as in its prevention;

WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan will not take off the ground without specific budget allocation from council members and other concerned agencies including LGUs;

WHEREAS, considering that agency budgets for 2018, including their respective GAD Budgets, have already been approved in Congress, bridging funds will have to be provided by council members for the implementation of common IACVAWC activities identified in the Strategic Plan, such as setting baseline data for the indicators and development of feedback and monitoring tools, cascading the Plan at the regional and local levels, and national mapping of available programs and services for VAW victim-survivors, among others;

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, the IACVAWC, as a collegial body, hereby commits funding support for the implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Action Plan, 2017-2022 and other VAWC initiatives to address emerging and other priority concerns by including such in their annual agency appropriations beginning 2019 and onwards.

DONE this ___ day of ________ in the year of the Lord, Two Thousand Eighteen, in Manila, Philippines.

Download a copy.