AWARENESS OF WOMEN TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN:

BASIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS IN THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH
1
Conrado B. Panerio, Jr. & 2Edmundo R. Albay
1
UM Digos College
2
Commission on Human Rights XI
1
conradopaneriojr@gmail.com 2chrdavao@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This descriptive research study aimed to determine the level of awareness of female residents in Digos
City towards Republic Act 9262 or legally known as “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of
2004.” This utilized a total of 491 female respondents randomly chosen from the different barangays of the said
parameter. A self-made questionnaire was administered consisting of 22 items which were retrieved verbatim
from the certain provisions of the said legal document. Based on the data analysis, it was revealed that female
respondents were moderately aware on the existence of Violence Against Women and may simply means no
engagement to such related cases in terms on information awareness. Thus, it was recommended that an actional
plan shall be implemented in terms of enhancement program on RA 9262. This refers to seminars and/or human
rights education information drive to yield 100% full awareness on this Act.

Keywords: awareness, RA 9262, VAWC, descriptive, Digos City

INTRODUCTION

Violence against women (VAW) has been part of the many significant issues in society. It has been
stipulated on the daily story of every individual on how they experienced such societal disease that even up to this
day still one of the unsolved problems of the State. It has been considered that the most reprehensible human
rights violation was violence against women (Santiago & Aya, 2014) and considered to be the first global public
health problem (Morris, 2007).
In the international scenery, violence against women (VAW) may be brought somewhat by gender
vulnerability and inequality (Santiago & Aya, 2004). This is because of the traditional factor that women were
structurally underlined as in weaker positions in all aspects of societies in terms of education, occupation, and
economics.
The World Health Organization (1996) as cited by Morris (2007) defined violence as,
"the intentional use of physical force or power threatened or actual,
against oneself, another person, or a group of community, that either result in
or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm,
maldevelopment or deprivation.”
Waller (1994), as cited by Carlson et al. (2003), violence has been addressed as a public health issue.
This may either be interpersonal violence, collective violence, abuse of child, sexual crime, street crime, elder or
disabled person, an act of war, and neglect (Morris, 2007).
Similarly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Report on Violence and Health in 2002,
violence has been considered to be the first global public health problem (Morris, 2007). This was because of the
increase in the prevalence and effects of partner violence, growing awareness of the impact of violence against
women on health care utilization, and the efforts of advocacy groups.
Based on the Ecological Model in the contextual aspect of roots of violence, violence has been classified
into individual, relationship, community, societal, and complex interactions. Individual factors may refer to the
demographic and biological factors such as the history of abuse, substance abuse, and education. Moreover,
relationships may refer to the family patterns, proximity to and acceptability of violence. Then, the community
was considered to be as institutions of abuse, which may apply to the neighborhood, transient communities, loss
of social support/social fabric, and social isolation. Furthermore, societal may refer to the cultural acceptance of
violence, damage to cultural restraints, and social power discrepancy. Lastly, complex interactions may refer to
war, societal collapse, sectarian violence, disaster, and famine.
According to Morris (2007), the possible consequences of violence may be morbidity, mortality,
economic loss, social disruption, diminished quality of life, loss of potential, family disruption, and psychological
trauma. According to WHO, as cited by Morris (2007), there were about 1.66 million violence-related deaths and
out of which were divided into three main cases, such as suicide (815,000), homicide (520,000) and war-related
(310,000). Moreover, of these millions of deaths, 1.51 million happened in the below and average-income
countries, and the rest occurred in the high-income countries.

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 Morris (2007) highlighted the following intervention and prevention strategies like (1) educational,
extracurricular, enrichment and vocational activities, (2) reduce social disruption, improved parenting, and lessen
teen pregnancy, (3) increase educational opportunities, and poverty reduction, (4) decreased access to alcohol and
guns, and (5) greater community involvement and security. These strategies were suggested to be implemented to
lessen the violence-related public health problem within the youth.
Violence against women has not a common issue nowadays, but still, a societal problem that needs more
attention. Krantz (2002) asserted that this societal issue is a global issue. Thus, it has been considered that the
most reprehensible human rights violation was violence against women (Santiago & Aya, 2014).
Globally, homicide has been the fourth leading cause of death for women younger than the age of 45,
most notably of on-the-job death for all women (Moracco, Runyan, and Dull, 2003).
WHO (1999) as cited by Morris (2007) underlined on their report on the WHO Consultation on Child
Abuse and Prevention that:
"Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and
emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or
commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the
child`s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship
of responsibility, trust or power."
Morris (2007) accentuated that gender difference has been seen as one of the factors why there are child
abuse and neglect. This violence – related cases due to gender differences may be classified as (1) infanticide, (2)
sexual abuse, (3) harsh physical abuse, and (4) educational neglect. However, in the same study by Morris (2007),
poverty has been the highlight of the spectrum on the predisposing factors of child abuse and neglect.
In the context of Nigeria, Odalepo, Yusuf, and Arulogun (2011) accentuated that relationship separation,
age, preceding oppression, and income were some of the influencers of VAW. While in the context of Bangladesh,
education, age, religion, wealth index, and marrying age were few of the other influencers to VAW (Islam, Alam,
& Islam, 2015). Furthermore,
Darko, Smith, and Walker (2015) highlighted in their study about gender violence in the context of Papua
New Guinea that there were high male incidence figures where surprisingly they found out that a high number of
these incidences were related to male rape. Moreover, in the same study, men experienced a higher prevalence of
gender violence rather than women in cases like physical assault, forced marriage, and various forms of
deprivation.
Morris (2007) defined “intimate partner violence (IPV) as physical, sexual, or psychological harm by
current or former partners or spouses…” does not require sexual intimacy. This is also known as domestic
violence, domestic abuse, domestic assault, or battering.
In the national scene, the Philippines has been putting its lens towards protecting women and their
children by enacting RA 9262 or legally known as "Anti- Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of
2004." This has been the result of the advocacy of women legislators, victim-survivors, human rights advocates,
and other government and non-government agencies (Caparas & Amparado, 2012). Moreover, based on the data
of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in its report in 2004, ever-partnered women the age of 15 – 49 years’
experience intimate partner sexual and physical violence at least once in their lifetime.
Republic Act No. 9262 or legally known as “Anti – Violence Against Women and their Children Act of
2004” defined VAW as,
“any act or series of acts committed against wives, former wives, or
women in any form of intimate relationship with the perpetrator, which result
in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or
economic abuse.”
Based on the study conducted by Bernarte, et al. (2018) with regard on the status of the violence against
women in the Philippines, they found out that family, economic, and social factors already exist in the Filipino
community which leads to the different occurrences of violence on women in some different context. Moreover,
in the same study, the researchers revealed that the other two contributing factors to the existence of this kind of
phenomenon were socio-cultural and socio-political factors.
Moreover, based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in its report in 2004, ever-
partnered women the age of 15 – 49 years’ experience intimate partner sexual and physical violence at least once
in their lifetime and the last 12 months.
In the context of the Philippines, Santiago and Aya (2014) conducted research to selected homemakers
in the selected municipalities of Palawan, where they found out that respondents were moderately aware of the
provisions of RA 9262. Moreover, in the same study, it was revealed that housewives as a very high perception
of violence against women (VAW).
In the local scenery, a limited study concerning violence against women (VAW) has been conducted. In
consonance to intensifying the campaign of the Human Rights Commission towards a safer community, the
researchers of this study generally aimed to determine first the awareness of the female residents in the City of

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Digos towards RA 9262 or legally known as “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.”

METHOD

This study employed a descriptive research design which sought to underline the demographic profile of
the respondents and the extent of their awareness towards Violence Against Women and their Children. Moreover,
this aimed to describe the data gathered to yield a sound recommendation of the action plan as the basis for the
community intervention program/s. Furthermore, this study utilized a total of 491 female respondents randomly
selected around the entire City of Digos (see table 1 below).
Table 1 reflects the distribution of the respondents who are randomly selected. Based on the descriptive
statistical table, it was highlighted that there are equally number of respondents who have age 18 – 27 (n=102)
and 48 – 57 (n=102). More so, there were more married (n=188) female residents participated in the said survey
as well. In terms of educational attainment, most of the respondents were high school graduate (n=92). Lastly,
many of them were housewives (n=256).
A self-made questionnaire was employed, consisting of 21 questions. These items were retrieved
verbatim from certain provisions of the Republic Act 9262. It underwent a reliability analysis using Cronbach`s
Alpha, which measures its internal consistency. The obtained Cronbach alpha is 0.934, which is above the
acceptable index of 0.70. To obtain as well the validity of the items assuring that the items were legally cited in
the said legal document, legal counsel was consulted to address the content validity. Furthermore, to address and
to answer the research objectives, this research employed descriptive statistics to scrutinize the items gearing
towards the provision of sound and authentic recommendation through an action plan.

Table 1. Demographic Profile

PROFILE f %
AGE
18 – 27 102 20.8
28 – 37 101 20.6
38 – 47 98 20.0
48 – 57 102 20.8
58 and above 88 17.9
CIVIL STATUS
Single 152 31.0
Married 188 38.3
Widowed 79 16.1
Separated 72 14.7
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Elementary Level 65 13.2
Elementary Graduate 61 12.4
High School Level 78 15.9
High School Graduate 92 18.7
College Level 75 15.3
College Graduate 68 13.8
Non-Formal 52 10.6
PRESENT WORK
Housewife 256 52.1
None 89 18.1
Student 55 11.2
Farmer 54 11.0
Sari-Sari Store Owner 12 2.4
PHW 1 0.2
Teacher 2 0.4
Business Woman 6 1.2
Patrol Woman 1 0.2
Online Seller 1 0.0
Financing 1 0.2
Housemaid 1 0.2
Sales Girl 1 0.2
STL Clerk 2 0.4
Job Order 1 0.2
Massage 2 0.4

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 Fish Vendor 2 0.4
Janitor 1 0.2
Small Town Lottery 1 0.2
BHW 1 0.2
Barangay Nutrition Scholar 1 0.2
TOTAL 491 100.0

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Below are the obtained results found in this study. The following items were retrieved verbatim from RA
9262 or legally known as "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The respondents if
they were aware of the following items if these were indicators of Violence Against Women (VAW).
Table 2 presents the distribution of female respondents who voluntarily participated in the said survey.
Based on the descriptive analysis, more female respondents from urban barangays participated compare to the far-
flung communities. This is for the reason that there was a more significant population in these urban barangays
compare to the remote villages. These refer to Barangay Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Matti, San Jose, Tiguman, etc.
Few of the identified far-flung locales were Balabag, Ruparan, Lungag, Kapatagan, Soong, Binaton, etc.

Table 2. Distribution of the Respondents (n=491)

PROFILE f %
Aplaya 35 7.0
Balabag 10 2.0
Binaton 12 2.0
Cogon 15 3.0
Colorado 10 2.0
Dawis 24 5.0
Dulangan 16 3.0
Goma 10 2.0
Igpit 14 3.0
Kapatagan 18 4.0
Kiagot 14 3.0
Lungag 10 2.0
Mahayah 16 3.0
Matti 14 3.0
Ruparan 17 3.0
San Agustin 16 3.0
San Jose 25 5.0
San Miguel 14 3.0
San Roque 19 4.0
Sinawilan 20 4.0
Soong 14 3.0
Tiguman 29 6.0
Tres De Mayo 25 5.0
Zone 1 30 6.0
Zone 2 31 7.0
Zone 3 30 6.0
TOTAL 491 100.0

Table 3 shows the descriptive statistics of the responses of the respondents on the following items in this
study. It was stipulated that there was an overall mean rating of 3.71, which was verbally described as Agree. This
implies that respondents were highly aware of the existence of VAW in the locality. Specifically, there were
seventeen (17) items were residents were highly aware. These are about causing physical harm to the woman or
her child, threatening to cause the woman or her child physical harm, attempting to create the woman or her child
physical harm, placing the woman or her child n fear of imminent bodily harm, trying to compel or compelling
the woman or her child to engage in conduct which the woman or her child has the right to desist from or desist
from conduct which the woman or her child has the right to engage in, attempting to restrict or restricting the
woman`s or her child`s freedom of movement or conduct by force or threat force, physical or other harm or threat
of bodily or other injury, or intimidation directed against the woman or child, threatening to deprive or actually
depriving the woman or her child of custody to her/his family, providing the woman`s children insufficient
financial support, depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her children of financial support legally due

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 Table 3. Level of Awareness Towards VAWC (n=491)
ITEMS Mean VD
1. Causing physical harm to the woman or her child. 3.82 Aware
2. Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical harm. 3.91 Aware
3. Attempting to cause the woman or her child physical harm. 3.86 Aware
4. Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent bodily harm. 3.74 Aware
5. Trying to compel or compelling the woman or her child to engage in conduct
in which the woman or her child has the right to desist from or desist from 3.79 Aware
conduct which the woman or her child has the right to engage in.
6. Attempting to restrict or restricting the woman`s or her child`s freedom of
movement or conduct by force or threat force, physical or other harm or
3.71 Aware
threat of physical or other harm, or intimidation directed against the woman
or child.
7. Threatening to deprive or depriving the woman or her child of custody to
3.84 Aware
her/his family.
8. Providing the woman`s children insufficient financial support. 4.03 Aware
9. Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her children of financial
4.01 Aware
support legally due to her or her family.
10. Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child of a legal right. 3.79 Aware
11. Preventing the woman in engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation,
3.23 Undecided
business, or activity.
12. Controlling the victim`s own money or properties, or solely controlling the
3.52 Aware
conjugal or common money, or properties.
13. Inflicting or threatening to inflict physical harm on oneself for the purpose of
3.69 Aware
controlling her actions or decisions.
14. Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child to engage in any
4.20 Aware
sexual activity.
15. Stalking or following the woman or her child in public or private places. 3.06 Undecided
16. Peering in the window or lingering outside the residence of the woman or
2.76 Undecided
her child.
17. Entering or remaining in the dwelling or on the property of the woman or her
3.08 Undecided
child against her/his will:
18. Destroying the property and personal belongings or inflicting harm to
3.66 Aware
animals or pets of the woman or her child.
19. Engaging in any form of harassment or violence 3.64 Aware
20. Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the
woman or her child, including, but not limited to, repeated verbal and 4.19 Aware
emotional abuse.
21. Denial of financial support to the wife and family. 4.28 Aware
OVERALL 3.71 Aware

her or her family, depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child of a legal right, controlling the
victim`s own money or properties, or solely controlling the conjugal or common money, or ownership, inflicting
or threatening to inflict physical harm on oneself for the purpose of controlling her actions or decisions, causing
or attempting to create the woman or her child to engage in any sexual activity, destroying the property and
personal belongings or inflicting harm to animals or pets of the woman or her child, participating in any form of
harassment or violence, and causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the woman or
her child, including, but not limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse.
Furthermore, four (4) items reflected that respondents were undecided on the existence of the item as
indicators to VAW. These were preventing the woman in engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation,
business or activity, stalking or following the woman or her child in public or private places, peering in the window
or lingering outside the residence of the woman or her child, and entering or remaining in the dwelling or on the
property of the woman or her child against her/his will. Lastly, one (1) item reflected were respondents showed
strong agreement on the topic, which is the denial of financial support to wife and family.
However, these results found to be below the threshold of the target of the Commission on Human Rights
in emphasizing and intensifying 100% awareness of their human rights. This was reflective of the different
researches with a similar report.

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 Like Santiago and Aya (2014) on their study entitled Awareness and Perception of Housewives in
Selected Municipalities Regarding RA 9262 (Anti – Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004). It
was revealed in that study that respondents were moderately aware of the existence of VAW.
Table 4 shows the female residents` awareness on Violence Against Women and their Children as
analyzed per locality. It was found out on the data analysis that there were seven (7) barangays who responded to
have been actively aware of the existence of the said law. These are Aplaya, San Agustin, San Jose, Tres De
Mayo, Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3.
Also, there were eleven (11) barangays who responded that they are aware of the existence of VAW.
These are Colorado, Dawis, Kapatagan, Kiagot, Mahayah, Matti, Ruparan, San Miguel, San Roque, Sinawilan,
and Tiguman. Consequently, there were five (5) barangays that considered themselves undecided if the VAW
exists in the country. These are Binaton, Cogon, Dulangan, Goma, and Igpit. However, three (3) barangays
reflected that they were unaware of the existence of Violence Against Women. These are Balabag, Lungag, and
Soong.
Generally, the data analysis underlined that the commonality of the response of the localities as a group
based on the category of response could be reflected in

Table 4. Level of Awareness on VAWC per Locality (n=491)

Barangay Mean VD
Aplaya 4.51 Strongly Aware
Balabag 2.15 Unaware
Binaton 2.95 Undecided
Cogon 3.16 Undecided
Colorado 3.49 Aware
Dawis 4.10 Aware
Dulangan 2.69 Undecided
Goma 2.89 Undecided
Igpit 3.16 Undecided
Kapatagan 3.99 Aware
Kiagot 3.74 Aware
Lungag 2.19 Unaware
Mahayahay 3.69 Aware
Matti 3.94 Aware
Ruparan 4.01 Aware
San Agustin 4.25 Strongly Aware
San Jose 4.56 Strongly Aware
San Miguel 4.10 Aware
San Roque 3.88 Aware
Sinawilan 3.79 Aware
Soong 2.55 Unaware
Tiguman 4.10 Aware
Tres De Mayo 4.35 Strongly Aware
Zone 1 4.86 Strongly Aware
Zone 2 4.65 Strongly Aware
Zone 3 4.69 Strongly Aware
OVERALL 3.71 Aware

the geographical set up of the community. An example is Balabag, Lungan, and Soong, which are far-flung
communities from urban barangays like Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

It has been concluded that most of the respondents were housewives and considered to attain until high
school level only. Based on the analysis, it was revealed that female residents of the City of Digos were moderately
aware on the existence of VAW. Moreover, resident from the far – flung areas ranging its awareness from unaware
to undecided leading to greater contributory on the below the threshold awareness towards violence against
women (VAW). Thus, the Commission on Human Rights shall utilize the said results of the study to establish a
concrete and authentic action plan which highlights the conduct of the different enhancement program in terms of
information dissemination drive and/or seminar – workshop in relation to VAW. This refers to seminars or human
rights education drive to provide them full awareness about the advocacy of CHR in terms of the rights of every
women and their children and to their human rights as a whole.

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 REFERENCES

Caparas, M. A. E., & Amparado, M. A. P. (2012). Women's Awareness on the Law on Anti-Violence Against
Women and their Children. JPAIR Multidisciplinary Journal (8), 29-43.

Carlson, B. E., Worden, A. P., van Ryn, M., & Bachman, R. (2000). Violence against women: Synthesis of
research for practitioners. Final Report, grant no. NIJ.

Global Database on Violence Against Women (2004). Prevalence Data on Different Forms of Violence Against
Women. Retrieved last September 15, 2019, from http://evaw-global-
database.unwomen.org/fr/countries/asia/philippines#2.

Morris, S. C. (2007). The causes of violence and the effects of violence on community and individual
health. Global Health Education, Consortium.

SANTIAGO, C. S., & AYA, E. B. (2014). Awareness and Perception of Housewives in Selected Municipalities
of Palawan Regarding RA 9262 (Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004). Asia
Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research| Vol, 2(5).

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