• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod Councilor Celia Matea Flor, vice chairperson of the Gender and Development Council, issued a strong call to action this Women’s Month, urging the public to maintain zero tolerance toward all forms of abuse and misogyny.
Highlighting the importance of reporting incidents of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), Flor addressed the social stigma that often prevents victims from seeking justice.
She emphasized that the burden of shame should never rest on the victim.
“Others are either embarrassed or find it too exhausting to report, but it is essential to report any form of violence. This is one way we can measure if our advocacy is succeeding or if there are still gaps we need to address,” Flor said.
The councilor also expressed concern over recent public remarks by public figures that she categorized as misogynistic.
Referring to the Safe Spaces Act, Flor criticized the idea that women are responsible for the harassment they face based on their clothing or appearance.
“We need to continuously campaign against violence and abuse to engrave it in our consciousness that women deserve respect and recognition for their skills and wisdom,” she added.
While reported VAWC incidents showed a slight decrease last year, the councilor cautioned against interpreting lower numbers as a success.
She noted that lower reporting rates do not necessarily equate to a decrease in actual abuse, as many cases remain hidden due to the baseline of underreporting in the community.*
