Demonstrating its continued commitment to championing child- and gender-sensitive governance, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 joined other key stakeholders during the 2nd Quarter Meeting of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC), Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (RIACAT-VAWC), and the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (RJJWC) on June 25, 2025, at the Ironwood Hotel, Tacloban City.
The meeting served as a strategic platform for national government agencies stakeholders to present progress reports and updates on ongoing intiatives that advance the protection of women and child in Eastern Visayas. These updates reflect the tangible gains made through sustained inter-agency collaboration in addressing exploitation, abuse, and gender-based violence.
Representing DILG Region 8 as Chair of the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (IMTF), Alternate Regional Focal Officer Ms. Jenna Negros delivered updates on the 2025 CFLGA implementation and the functionality of Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPCs). She also highlighted the Departmentโ€™s ongoing onsite functionality assessments of Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) at the provincial, highly urbanized city (HUC), and independent component city (ICC) levels.
These efforts are in line with the directive of DILG Region 8 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe, who emphasized the importance of translating structures into real, life-saving services.
โ€œBeyond having mechanisms in place, people must feel they are truly protected,โ€ said Director Agabe. โ€œBy rigorously evaluating functionality, we ensure that these committees deliver real services, strengthen local response systems, and ultimately save lives.โ€
The meeting convened representatives from major national agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), Public Attorneyโ€™s Office (PAO), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Justice (DOJ), alongside partner Civil Society Organizations such as Save the Children and Plan International.
The convergence of these regional bodies reinforces the shared commitment of government and civil society to uphold the rights and welfare of women and children. Through integrated planning, policy alignment, and coordinated implementation, the tri-committee plays a vital role in localizing national mandates and building responsive, community-based protection systems across Eastern Visayas.
By sustaining its active engagement in these regional mechanisms, DILG Region 8 affirms its role as a key driver of child-friendly and gender-responsive governanceโ€”strengthening local accountability, combating trafficking, and enhancing the delivery of protective services across the region.