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Empowering Women Against Domestic Violence:

A Case Study from Barangay Lam-Caliaf

In Partial Fulfilment of the Course Requirement

Submitted by:

Laiza Renee Bacomo and Reynaldo Jr. U. Bayona

Department of Social Work, South-East Asian Institute of Technology, Inc.

HBSE1: Philippines Social Realities and Social Welfare

Submitted to:

Gillian Abigail Mataac

June 25, 2022

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Table of Contents

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................3
RATIONALE.................................................................................................................5
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES....................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................13
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ABSTRACT

A case study design was used, to investigate and describe women's

experiences with and perceptions of domestic violence, as well as their coping

mechanisms.

A self-administered questionnaire was used, which was based from the

related studies gathered by the researchers. The researchers had purposively

selected the participants of the women in Barangay Lam-Caliaf, the researchers

personally approached the participant and explained to her the study that the

researchers are presently doing. The researchers give a questionnaire to be

answered by the participants for gathering essential information for the study. After

collecting the answers, the researchers encoded the gathered data and conducted

the final analysis. The result shows that majority of the participants found that they

had experienced domestic violence.

The researchers concluded that if women are empowered and gender

equality is achieved, women can perform their roles effectively in the society whether

it is through economic, social, political, and environmental. A lot of

acknowledgements about women that are already recognized by the society. This

shows that we are already going out from comfort zone that everyone can do

everything without and stepping someone’s reputation.

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This case study, therefore, shows several problems of women that is

currently facing in the said barangay. The barangay will not achieve its

improvements if only it recognizes the men’s participation.

Hence, this paper calls for the strong commitment of the government to

empower women and utilize all of the potentials in developing a more peaceful and

equal society.
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RATIONALE

In every country on the planet, women are the primary caregivers for children

and the elderly. International studies show that when a society's economy and

political organization change, women take the lead in assisting the family in adjusting

to new realities and challenges.

The researchers are interested to evaluate what is the reason behind the

domestic violence against the women of barangay Lam-Caliaf. Observing their day-

to-day experiences so that the community of the barangay may better support the

women’s efforts within their respective roles in the society. The finding from this

study produced personal accounts from women, conceptualizing how they perceive

their own experiences in the context of their role(s) to the community.

Lam-Caliaf is a barangay in the municipality of Polomolok, in the province of

South Cotabato. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 1,718. This

represented 1.00 percent of the total population of Polomolok (PhilAtlas, 2015). As

per gathered information, the female population of barangay Lam-Caliaf is 1,278 –

including youth, middle age, and senior citizens. This shows that female population

is dominant in the said barangay.

The researchers observed, that the women of barangay Lam-Caliaf who had

experience domestic violence had impact their physical and mental health. People

who frequently use violence are also victims of childhood traumas; however, some
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have control issues. These people feel the need to exert control over nearly every

aspect of their lives, including personal and romantic relationships, family dynamics,

and workplace events. Domestic violence can have a significant impact on one's

psychological health. People who have experienced such violence are more likely to

commit suicide due to increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and

depression.

A 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of prevalence data from

2000 to 2018 across one hundred sixty-one countries and areas, conducted on

behalf of the United Nations (UN) Interagency working group on violence against

women, discovered that nearly one in every three women, or thirty percent, have

been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-

partner sexual violence, or both (World Health Organization, 2021). Domestic

violence, whether physical, financial, psychological, or social abuse, or any

combination of these, holds women captive in families and societies. Although living

a life free of violence is a basic human right, thirty percent of women worldwide have

experienced domestic violence (van der Putten & Nur-E-Jannat, 2022).

According to Dahiru, Joshua, Nwankwo, & Mohammed-Durosinlorun, 2022,

domestic violence as the outcome of interest was measured as physical violence,

sexual violence and emotional violence which included experiences of one or several

of the following acts of abuse by a current or former partner in a woman’s lifetime

and the 1 year preceding the study:

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Physical violence: (1) pushing, shaking or throwing something at her; (2)

slapping her; (3) twisting her arm or pulling her hair; (4) punching her with his

fist or hitting her with something harmful; (5) kicking, dragging or beating her;

(6) choking or burning her on purpose; and (7) threatening or attacking her

with a weapon (eg, gun or knife).

Sexual violence: (1) forced sexual intercourse; (2) physically forcing her to

perform any other sexual act when undesired; and (3) forcing her with threats

to perform sexual acts when undesired.

Emotional violence: (1) humiliating her in public; (2) threatening to hurt or

harm someone close to her; and (3) insulting or making her feel bad about

herself.

Domestic violence laws and police interventions became a reality during

twentieth century, and convictions and arrests began. It is important to note,

however, that because domestic violence is not always physical and obvious, there

are reported cases where no one is convicted. For example, reporting yelling in a

neighbor's house may not be recorded as a notifiable crime (Zamba, Mousoulidou, &

Christodoulou, 2022). Republic Act No. RA 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence

Against Women and Their Children Law ("VAWC"), defines violence against women

and children as "any act or series of acts against a woman who is his wife, former

wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had sexual or dating

relationship, or against her child, whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without

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family abode, which results in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or

economic abuse” (Nicolas & de Vega Law Offices, n.d.).

That is why, we, the researchers have conducted this study to know the

importance the role of empowering the women and how these women perceive their

situations having this kind of problem of barangay Lam-Caliaf.

As the researchers gathered the information, most of the respondents are

capable of coping their own situations but unfortunately others cannot. Thus, local

government and the society should evaluate more about these manners because

domestic violence is the hidden pandemic that some of women are still experiencing.
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PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

This shows that the programs and services received by the women who

experienced domestic violence.

SECTOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RECEIVED

Women Magna Carta for Women on "Protection from Violence" states:

The State shall ensure that all women shall be protected from all forms

of violence as provided for in existing

laws. Agencies of government shall give priority to the defense and

protection to women against gender-based offenses and help women

attain justice and healing. Towards this end, measures to prosecute and

reform offenders shall likewise be pursued (UN Women, 2009).

Women’s Resources, Initiatives and Trainings (WRIT)

Advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls

to exercise their rights against discrimination and violence.

Conduct Women’s Community-Based Enriched Modular Package

Sessions (Self-Enhancement, Gender Sensitivity, Self-care, Maternal

and Child Care Nutrition, Early Childhood Illnesses, Environmental

Sanitation, Leadership, Community Participation, Basic Business

Management Training, Numeracy and Social Communication Skills

Development)

· Comprehensive Interventions Against Gender-based Violence

· Celebration of important events (March 8 as International Women’s

Day, March as Women’s Month, Nov 25-Dec 12 for the 18-day Anti-

VAW campaign)
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· Conduct of Women Leaders Conventions (R/P/M)

· Participation to fora/conferences and trainings

Women’s Opportunities to Microenterprise Benefits (WOMB)

Increased options for economic security through technical assistance,

access to credit and marketability.

Practical Skills Development for women and girls

· Sustainable Livelihood Assistance

· Referrals for microenterprise development

· Coordination meetings with other financing institutions

· Technical assistance

· Monitoring and Evaluation

Women’s Access to Comprehensive Help (WATCH)

Strengthening of human rights protection systems and participatory

mechanisms.

Counselling sessions

· Financial assistance to needy clients

· Coordination meetings of LCATVAWCs in all levels

· Referral of cases to concerned institutions for important

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interventions or other support services

· Gender-Responsive Case Management conferences

· Temporary shelter in the Women’s Halfway Home

(Ministry of Social Services and Develpoment, n.d.)

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

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This case study, therefore, shows several problems of women that is currently

facing in the said barangay. The barangay will not achieve its improvements if only it

recognizes the men’s participation.

Programs and services received by women proves that despite of what these

women have gone through, still they can be functional as they are. Continue their life

valuing themselves and making their perspectives widen, and their lives better. We

can be the voice for other’s untold stories, and we can run this world together by

promoting equality, pursuing justice and freedom towards others, and spreading

kindness to the unkind.

References
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Dahiru, T., Joshua, I. A., Nwankwo, B., & Mohammed-Durosinlorun, A. (2022).

Cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude and prevalence of domestic
violence among women in Kaduna, north-western Nigeria. BMJ Open;
London, e051626.
Ministry of Social Services and Develpoment. (n.d.). Retrieved from
mss.bangsamoro.gov.ph: https://mssd.bangsamoro.gov.ph/women-welfare-
program/
Nicolas & de Vega Law Offices. (n.d.). Retrieved from ndvlaw.com:
https://ndvlaw.com/punishing-violence-against-women-in-the-philippines/
PhilAtlas. (2015). Retrieved from philatlas.com:
https://www.philatlas.com/mindanao/r12/south-cotabato/polomolok/lam-
caliaf.html#sectionDemog
UN Women. (2009). Retrieved from evaw-global-database.unwomen.org:
https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/philippines/
2009/magna-carta-for-women
van der Putten, M., & Nur-E-Jannat, A. (2022). Coping with domestic violence:
women's voices in Bangladesh. Journal of Health Research; Bingley, 77-88.
World Health Organization. (2021, March 9). Retrieved from who.int:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
Zamba, C., Mousoulidou, M. V., & Christodoulou, A. (2022). Domestic Violence
against Women and COVID-19. Encyclopedia; Naples, 441.