SPIO backs Sarangani’s campaign to stop gender-based violence

 

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 22, 2022) – In a bid to end gender-based violence, the Sarangani Provincial Information Office (SPIO) has tapped the power of the media “to speak against abuses.”

This was the statement of Sarangani Provincial Information Officer Joana Grace Banting-Lapore as she addressed members of the tri-media and designated Municipal Information Officers during a seminar on November 17-18.

The seminar, dubbed as Information Management to Mitigate Risks of Gender-Based Violence, was held to update the participants on relevant information and to bolster their communication skills to become effective advocates on the advocacy.

The tri-media has been the partner of the SPIO in conveying information and in empowering Sarangans, especially those residing in far-flung areas in the province.

Sarangani’s topography is mostly mountainous with hard-to-reach barangays.

Lapore has recognized the contribution of the media as she told them, “dako and atong papel with regard to gender-based violence and, we are supposed to speak against it.”

“We pray that you will use the power that you have and anyone of us has to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” she also said.

Briefly, Lapore reported that the Provincial Government of Sarangani maintains a facility in Alabel town that houses abused children “whose lives are broken, whose hearts are wounded.”

She then called out the “offenders” and stressed to never “blame the victims, whether sa sanina ba nila or unsa pa. Let us side doon sa mga bata, sa mga kababaihan who are helpless. Let us speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

The seminar was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency. (Beverly C. Paoyon & photos by Martin Fernando E. Bernad Jr./ SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

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