October 5, 2025

Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710) provides for the establishment of a VAW desk in every barangay. The Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk is a barangay-level facility which serves as a frontline service provider to victim-survivors who experience physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and other forms of abuse. It is managed by a VAW Desk Officer designated by the Punong Barangay and is usually situated within the premises of the barangay hall.1

ROLE OF THE BARANGAY

  • The Sangguniang Barangay shall enact an ordinance or, if existing, update the ordinance providing support to the establishment and sustained operations of a VAW Desk.
  • The Punong Barangay shall issue an Executive Order designating the Barangay VAW Desk Officer within the first 100 days upon assumption to office.
  • Establish the VAW Desk and ensure its functionality for the efficient and effective delivery of VAW-related assistance and services to victim-survivors.
  • Ensure the integration of the barangay’s gender-responsive plan in the Barangay Gender and Development Plan and Budget, Barangay Development Plan, and Annual Investment Program.
  • Ensure the participation of the VAW Desk Officer in gender-sensitivity training, orientation on various VAW-related laws, protocols, and procedures when responding to the incidence of VAW, and other-related learning activities to continuously build and strengthen the capacities of the VAW Desk Officer in performing their duties and responsibilities.
  • Set up a referral network to strengthen the coordination among public and private organizations which provide VAW-related services to ensure that necessary assistance is extended to the victim-survivors.
  • Promote the services being provided by the VAW Desk for women victim-survivors, including procedures on how to avail them as well as its contact information.

ESTABLISHMENT OF VAW DESK IN EVERY BARANGAY

  • The Punong Barangay shall issue an Executive Order to establish or reorganize the VAW Desk within the first 100 days upon assumption to office.
  • The Barangay VAW Desk shall be established within or near the barangay hall. If there is no barangay hall, the VAW Desk may be put up close to where the Punong Barangay holds office.
  • The VAW desk must be situated in a place where the confidentiality, privacy, and safety of the client will not be compromised. If the VAW Desk is within the barangay hall, it must have a separate room/area where the intake interview can be conducted and where the victim is obstructed from the view or hearing of other people inside the barangay hall. Further, signage of “Barangay VAW Desk” must be installed in the area/room and must be visible to the public for proper identification of the said desk.

RESOURCES THAT MUST BE AVAILABLE IN THE BARANGAY VAW DESK

  • Equipment and Supplies – needed for recording, documenting and monitoring of VAW cases received, and collecting and preserving evidence. Includes communication equipment and first aid kits.
  • Furniture and Fixtures – such as but not limited to tables and chairs, sofa bed, folding bed or mat, filing cabinets/storage area, monitoring tools, reference materials. Shall have a separate cabinet or designated storage place where files could be safely kept and maintained. Access to its contents must be controlled by the VAW Desk Officer.
  • Monitoring Tools – shall have the following important forms: 1) Intake Form to be use? during the conduct of intake interview; 2) Referral Form to be used 1n the referral of VAW cases; 3) Feedback Form to be used in getting feedback on the status of the VAW cases referred; 4) BPO Application Form to be used in applying for the issuance of BPO; and 5) Logbooks for record-keeping of VAW cases.
  • Personal Amenities – must have the supplies which the victim-survivor can use like clothing; toiletries such as tissue paper, sanitary napkins, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels and soaps; and pillows and blankets.
  • References – must have the following reference materials: 1) Updated directory of all agencies and institutions from the barangay up to the national agencies that provide VAW-related services; 2) Barangay VAW Desk Handbook; 3) IEC materials and other VAW-related documents; 4) flowchart for the BPO issuance; and 5) flowchart for the handling of VAW cases, both of which must be posted in a conspicuous place in the barangay hall.
  • Transportation and Utilities – As VAW cases should always be treated with urgency, there should be an easily accessible mode of transportation whenever the situation calls for the victim-survivor to be relocated due to security reason or to get immediate medical attention. The means of transport could either be the barangay patrol car, or a public or private vehicle that could be relied on during cases of emergency. In the absence of a vehicle, transportation expenses must be available for the use of transporting victim-survivor/s. Moreover, the VAW Desk should be well-lit and well-ventilated. It must have a power source provided by electricity, a generator or other source of power, 24 hours a day.

DESIGNATION OF VAW DESK OFFICER

  • The Punong Barangay shall designate a VAW Desk Officer who is trained in gender-sensitive handling of cases, preferably a female Sangguniang Barangay Member or a female barangay tanod. In cases where there are no female Sangguniang Barangay members or barangay tanod, the Punong Barangay can assign community volunteers provided that she possesses the qualities of a VAW Desk Officer pursuant to the Barangay VAW Desk Handbook.
  • If there are no trained personnel, the Punong Barangay shall ensure that the designated VAW Desk Officer undergoes basic gender sensitivity training, survivor-centered handling cases training, and orientation on anti-VAW laws.

FUNCTIONS OF VAW DESK OFFICER

The Barangay VAW Desk Officer shall have the following functions:

  • Respond to gender-based violence cases reported to the barangay 24/7, regardless of whether the report was made by a concerned citizen/informant or the victim-survivor;
  • Record the number of gender-based violence cases handled by the barangay and submit a quarterly report on all VAW cases to the DILG City/Municipal Field Office and the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO);
  • Keep VAW case records confidential and secured, and ensure that only authorized personnel can access it in compliance with the DATA Privacy Act of 2023;
  • Assist victims of VAW in securing Barangay Protection Order (BPO) and facilitate the provision of necessary services;
  • Develop the Barangay Gender-Responsive Plan (BGRP) in addressing gender-based violence, including the allocation of funds and resources for support services, conduct of capacity-building activities, and establishment of a referral system;
  • Coordinate with and refer cases to government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs ), institutions, and other service providers as necessary;
  • Address other forms of abuse committed against women, especially senior citizens, women with disabilities, and other marginalized groups;
  • Maintain and regularly update a referral system and linkages to expedite the provision of services and resolution of cases;
  • Lead advocacies on the elimination of VAW in the community and seek assistance from the PNP, CSOs, NGOs, and other LGUs in the performance of the tasks.
  • Attend case conferences requested by the social worker to check whether remedies and services needed by the victim-survivor have been delivered;
  • Assist in the formulation/updating of ordinances and/or policies to address VAW issues in the barangay;
  • Act as Anti-Sexual Harassment (ASH) Desk Officer to assist victim-survivors of sexual harassment in streets and public spaces pursuant to the Safe Spaces Act2;
  • Accomplish the Barangay Officials Information Sheet
  • (BOIS) and submit a copy of the accomplished BOIS to the concerned C/MLGOO, through the Punong Barangay, for encoding to the Barangay Information System-Barangay Officials Profiling System (BIS-BOPS); and
  • Perform other related functions as may be assigned.

FUNDING

The cost for the establishment and operations of the Barangay VAW Desk shall be charged under the LGU’s gender and development (GAD) budget, which shall be at least five percent (5%) of their budgetary allocation. As such, it shall be included in the annual GAD Plans and Programs of the LGUs, in accordance with Section 37 (A) of the MCW IRR (Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation for GAD).

Further, to carry out the provisions/mandate of the Anti-VAW Act, the LGUs shall prioritize the use of their GAD Budget for services and programs for VAWC victim-survivors as well as in its prevention, and the 20% Development Fund of LGUs shall also be tapped for the same purpose.

REFERENCES: