Social welfare desk launched to protect women, children in Boracay
BY MAY RAGO-CASTILLO

A social welfare desk was recently launched at the Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan to protect children and women both within and travelling towards Boracay Island.
“We commend the provincial government of Aklan and Malay municipality for putting up this desk to protect women and children. I think you are the second local government unit throughout the country that has done this,” said Usec. Celia C. Yangco of the Operations and Capacity Group of DSWD Central Office.
The desk is aimed at providing a prompt response for the rescue and protection of victims of abuses in order to prevent them from high-risk situation and further harm and immediate services/interventions to victim-survivor of abuses.
It also seeks to ensure a unified and synchronized effort in preventing and eliminating abuse, exploitation, and discrimination; provide a child-friendly atmosphere at Jetty Port; and provide the full protection to children by not prejudicing their right to enjoy going to places such as the Boracay Island.
“We commit our resources and technical assistance to ensure the operationalization of this desk. We are also urging the province and municipality to develop volunteers who could help in the protection of women and children. This will give the community the feeling of ownership of this desk, thus, strengthen your campaign on protection of women and children,” Yangco said.
Also, she added that while women and children are the primary concern for the welfare desk, it is hoped that the desk can also respond to the issues of disadvantaged groups such as differently-abled persons and older persons.
“I hope to see this desk transformed into an office in the future,” she added.
Also present during the launching were DSWD Regional Director Minda Brigoli, Mayor John Yap of Malay, Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Elma Malbas and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Selwyn Ibarreta.
The target beneficiaries of the social welfare desk are victim-survivor of abuse, exploitation, and discrimination; women and children who escaped or rescued from traffickers or abusive employers; and women and children at risk.
All minors entering Boracay Island alone or with a non-relative companion should also be made to register for easy tracking in case of eventualities; but not to jeopardize the right to privacy.
Minor children found travelling alone bound to Boracay or other places should also be referred to Social Welfare Desk by ticket inspector or vessels crew or any person for registration.
In cases that immediate family or significant others need to be contacted, coordination or referral to the Local Social Welfare and Development Officer will be done immediately.
Clients who are categorized as displaced or transients should be referred to LSWDO-Malay for possible interventions to individuals, families and group in crisis situation.
Services that will be offered include rescue operation to cases needing immediate action in coordination with law enforcers and other government agencies; medical assistance, counselling, psycho-social intervention, reintegration to family and community and referral services to other agencies.