The City Social Welfare and Development Office Buhangin-A District, together with partners, started a series of school-based orientations on child abuse for teachers and children – covering high school and elementary schools in Buhangin District-A.
“Ang tumong sa ani is magkampanya mi unsay protocol, unsa ang proper buhaton sa kung naay kaso sa pagpang-abuso (The main purpose is to be able to campaign on the protocols and what are the proper things to do in case of abuse),” Buhangin District-A Head Juenalyn Pablo said in an interview with the City Information Office.
She said that teachers and students are given input on how to handle cases of child abuse.
Pablo said that the school-to-school campaign were participated by the CSWDO and the Philippine National Police as resource speakers.
“Sa mga teachers gi-explain namo sa ilaha unsa ang ilang role, unsa ang role namo sa CSWDO and unsa pud ang role ni barangay ug ni PNP. Sa bata mismo gi-orient namo sila unsa ang angay buhaton kay although paspas ang campaign pud nato sa Kean Gabriel pero atleast na naa silay other means kung asa sila pwede mutug-an. (We explained to the teachers what their role is, the role of the CSWDO, the role of the barangay and the PNP. For the children we gave them orientation on what they can do, although our campaign with Kean Gabriel is existing, at least they have other means to confide their case),” Pablo said, adding that the main goal of the school based orientation is to provide a safe space for children to report case or cases of abuse.
Pablo said that they presented the flow of referrals where teachers are identified as persons who may report the case. These teachers were guided on whom they should contact with the police, whom they could contact at the barangay, and whom they could contact at the CSWDO.
“Ang police pud sa ilang level, they explained unsa ka important ang mureport dayon, dili maging hesistant kay gaapas nga ma-inquest ang case. Gi-explain pud ni PNP kung nganong kinahanglan sila musabay sa bata inig blotter. Ang thinking man gud sa maestra ng kung musabay sila ug blotter sila ang mag testify sa court. Mahadlok sila nga magawas ilang name sa police blotter. Gi-clarify ni sa police na dili ni siya (The police explained how important it is to report the case at the earliest possible time and not to be hesitant because they are aiming to submit the case to an inquest. The PNP also explained why the [teachers needed to go to the police for the blotter. Some teachers are thinking that if they do so they will testify before the court. They are afraid that their names will appear in the police blotter. The police clarified this, and told them that it is how things will pan out),” Pablo said.
Pablo said that they target to finish the school-to-school orientation by the end of the year and monitor through the quarterly meeting of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) the cases or issues of child abuse in schools.
She urged teachers as duty bearers to report cases.
Pablo made assurances that Davao City is lucky to have various agencies that they can collaborate with to assist and work hand-in-hand for the welfare of children.
“Dili mahadlok magpakabana kay naa gyud ta mu-alalay, muresponde (They should not fear because we are just here, ready to assist and to respond),” Pablo said. CIO
