Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of Women’s Month, the Quezon City government is giving female residents free medical services, seminars, and livelihood assistance this March.
The Quezon City Protection Center (QCPC) will offer free pap smear testing while the Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO) will hold a bazaar at the Quezon City Hall grounds and provide livelihood training for women entrepreneurs throughout the month, according to the local government.
Also, female Quezon City residents may avail of free zumba sessions, cervical cancer screenings, ultrasounds, and other medical services, and seminars on sexual harassment, women’s rights, and mental health that the various offices and departments of the local government will initiate.
There will likewise be a photo contest and essay-writing and poster-making contests.
The QC Public Library will also give free coffee and tokens to its first 500 female clients.
‘Eliminate sexual abuse’
During her state of the Women Address recently, Mayor Joy Belmonte vowed to strengthen Quezon City’s commitment “to eliminate physical, mental, and sexual abuse against women through the different programs.”
In 2022, the city launched Men Against Violence Everywhere (MOVE) and Cycling to End violence against women (VAW) after receiving more than 2,000 VAW-related cases.
“Any number other than zero is simply unacceptable,” said Belmonte.
She added that the city plans to expand its services of QC Helpline 122 to respond to VAWC reports and mental health concerns.
Aside from these, the local government also established the QC Protection Center, “a one-stop shop crisis center that she plans to expand to every district in the city, and Bahay Kanlungan, a temporary shelter for VAWC victims.”
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