CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION
Violence against women and children (VAWC). The Philippines is no stranger to
these words. It is real, it is happening, it is claiming lives. Violence against women and
children appears to be one of the countrys pervasive social problems. The wide
prevalence of such violence takes an enormous toll on the lives of individual victims as
well as the larger society, through innumerable behavioral, health, psychological, and
economic consequences.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) documented a total of 1,100 to 7,383 cases of
Violence to women and children from 1996 to 2004. The highest record was in 2001 at
10, 343. Cases included physical injuries, battering, verbal abuse and rape (incestuous
and attempted).
Cebu City local government also claims that VAWC continues to be a major social
and public health problem affecting thousands of women not only in Cebu but also
worldwide. In a Cebu City Police Office comparative report, a total of 863 women
violence-related cases have been reported in the year 2013 which is an increase of
126.51 percent, compared to 381 cases in year 2012. (www.philstar.com)
There are just some of the realities that contribute to the vulnerability of Filipino
women and children to violence. An even greater problem is that some communities fail
to respond towards domestic violence. Aside from lacking rehabilitation programs, it is
also seen that some abuse falls in a cyclical pattern due to lack of facilities for the
victims. However, the local government of Cebu had been trying their best to establish
facilities and programs primarily to address the issues of violence against women and
children in city.

RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

Significant progress has been made by both the government and nongovernment organizations in Cebu City in terms of addressing and eliminating Violence
against Women and Children. Facilities and programs have also been established to
alleviate the impacts of VAW. One of this is the development of a Crisis Center for
Women and Children that will serve as a refuge and temporary shelter for the
victims/survivors of abuse, violence, human trafficking and all other forms of
exploitation.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Different regulations and required legal basis are considered as parameters to
serve as guide for the development of the Crisis Center for Women and Children. In
order to achieve the desired facility and to have its optimum function in the community,
some concerns are considered such as the following: Capacity of the facility, Physical
and environmental features, Facilities to be provided, Sustainable Factors and other
Architectural Factors.

RA 9262
Capacity based on
number of cases of
abused Women and
Children

Anti-Violence
Against Women and
Their Children Act
of 2004
RA 9710
Magna Carta of
Women
RA 7877
Anti-Sexual
Harassment Act

Physical and
environmental

Crisis Center for

Women and
Children

Features

Facilities to be
provided based on
guidelines

of 1995
RA 8505
Rape Victim
Assistance and
Protection Act
of1998
DOJ Memorandum
on the
Guidelines on
Handling of Rape C
ases Involving Adul
t Victims

Sustainable Factors

Other Architectural
Factors such as
building
utilities,building
character &
building materials

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Existing Laws and
provisions

National Building Code

of The Philippines
DOJ Guidelines on
handling rape cases
Fire Code of the
Philippines
Accessibility Law

Existing Condition

Topography
Climate
Geology
RROW
Exisiting
Neighborhoods

Government Agencies
Involved:
DSWD
NCRFW
CSC
CHR
CWC
DOJ
DILGP
PNP
NBI

CONSIDERATIONS

GREEN ARCHITECTURE
AND INNOVATION

TROPICAL AND PASSIVE

DESIGN

STANDARDS ON SPACE
SIZES AND
DIMENSIONS

PLANNING AND
DESIGNING
PROCESS OF

PLANNING AND URBAN

DESIGN
STANDARDS

CRISIS CENTER FOR

WOMEN AND
DEVELOPMENT OF
CRISIS CENTER FOR
WOMEN AND
CHILDREN
DESIRED OUTCOME

ARCHITECTURE

Spaces within
standards
Eco-friendly
User-friendly
Functionality
Sustainability

IMPACT/RESULT

Effective refuge area for

the victims
Help the victims towards
healing and growth
Give enrichment
features and livelihood
programs for the victims

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

The main objective of the study is to develop a Crisis Center for Women and
Children that will give shelter and protection to the victims of abuse and violence in
Cebu City.
The following are minor objectives to support the major objectives of the study:
1. To provide an emergency shelter that will give the victims of abuse and violence
time to heal, recover and rebuild their lives.
2. To give the victims of abuse and violence protection.
3. To provide childcare, housing and employment assistance to the victims.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of having a Women and Children Crisis Center, according to RA
9262, also known as known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children
Act of 2004", is as follows;

1. Assistance- It offers crisis assistance to those women and children.

Understanding the needs of families impacted by domestic violence and are
here to give support
2. Safety Planning- A short term and long term care provided for those women and
children who are physically, sexually and psychologically harmed or economically
abused. Different shelters are provided for transitional care and treatment.
2.1 An emergency center that offers a safe and secure place of refuge and
recovery for victims of domestic violence and their children. The entire
continuum of onsite provisions consists of food, clothing, hygiene items,
support

groups,

parenting

classes,

one-on-one

counseling,

case

management, legal, financial and medical advocacy, transportation, and

childrens program including an on-site school for shelter children.

2.2 A transitional center providing housing and supportive services to victims

and their children who have made the transition from emergency shelter, but
are not yet ready to be on their own.
3. Information and Referrals to service providers- According to RA 9262, the
State values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for
human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its
members particularly women and children, from violence and threats to their
personal safety and security. Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to
address violence committed against women and children in keeping with the
fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the Provisions of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It provides the legal aspect of the law
which gives knowledge to women and children their rights as a human and as a
part of the community. It provides information on what actions should be taken
with legal basis. Its a wide support system that is provided by the government, in
which, it is referred by other service providers such as health care, psychiatric
care ( if trauma is observed ), support groups, educators and a lawyer.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The study responds to the present situations encountered by the general public
particularly to the victims of abuse and violence in Cebu City.
This study is limited to the physical plan of a facility to shelter those who are victims
of abuse and violence in Cebu City. It covers the implementation of the rules in
defending the human right under the RA 9262 (Anti-violence against women and their
children) and RA 9710 (Magna Carta Of women).
The research study will be conducted from January 2016 up to December 2017.
The area of operation will be on Cebu City.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Attitudes toward women: personal views of responsibility, privileges, and behaviors

based on gender (Spence & Hahn, 1997).
Battered woman: a woman who is being or has been abused either physically,
sexually, emotionally, and/or psychologically by an intimate partner (Walker, 1994).
Blame attribution measures the attribution of blame for domestic violence based on
situational, perpetrator, societal, and victim factors.
Child maltreatment/child abuse constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional illtreatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other
exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the childs health, survival,
development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Collective violence has been defined as the instrumental use of violence by people
who identify themselves as members of a group.
Comfort level: the level of feeling a sense of ease when counseling a battered woman
in a counseling session.
Domestic violence a behavior used by the person to control the other that may result
to abuse(physical, sexual, psychological or emotional).
Elder abuse may be an act of commission or omission and may be intentional or
unintentional.
Emotional/psychological violence also referred to as psychological violence,
emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person
subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma,
including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Feminist perspective feminist who examine experiences of being abuse or any type of
violence

Sex
Family violence refers to child maltreatment, sibling violence, intimate partner violence
and elder abuse.
Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, rights, responsibilities, possibilities and
limitations that a society assigns to men and women.
Gender based violence recognizes that violence occurs within the context of
womens subordinate status in the society, and serves to maintain this unequal balance
of power.
Interpersonal violence includes acts of violence and intimidation that occur between
family members, intimate partners or between individuals.
Intimate partner violence refers to physical, sexual or psychological harm by a current
or former partner or spouse.
Perceived comfort measures counselors degree of comfort when counseling females
in abusive domestic relationships
Personal Issues: issues that are directly connected to a person based on how an issue
occurred to close individuals in the persons life (e.g., the individual person, family
members, friend, and/or someone the individual has close connection to with personal
and emotional ties).
Physical violence is a deliberate use of physical force that may cause harm.
Self directed violence includes suicidal thoughts or action and forms of self harm.
Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or
coercion, unwanted sexual comments or advances, acts to traffic a person or acts
directed against a person's sexuality, regardless of the relationship to the victim.
Social desirability measures the degree to which participants respond in culturally
appropriate manner

Victim coping strategies is a way how the victim respond, react or take action on the
situation. to the forms and type of domestic violence is a keep silence, women victim
never reported at the police station to seek a helping hand, because domestic violence
is still recognize a private issue. Only when the violence results injuries, the victim will
seek help from the medical personnel.
Youth violence is a significant risk factor for becoming both a victim or a perpetrator of
violence, with young males particularly at risk.

ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This study consists of five chapters all of which are arranged in sequential order
of presentation of its data flows.
Chapter 1. The Problem and its Scope
This includes the introductory part of the study, statement of the problem,
significance of the study, scope and limitation, definition of terms and organization of the
study.
Chapter 2. Related Literature
It contains the related topic and literature that the researcher gathered from varied
source like books, journals, newspapers and magazines. It identifies the origin of the
prevailing present problem. Findings made by others may be written;
quoted; laws, theories, concepts, ideas, and opinions of others who have made
similar study.
Chapter 3. Research Methodology
Describes the research method used, research environment, research instrument,
research respondent, source of data, and statistical method.

Chapter 4. Presentation of Analysis and Interpretation of Data

Analysed and interpreted to come up with solid conclusion with regard to the
research problem.
Chapter 5. Summary, Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
It includes the restatement of the principal problem, the principal findings of the
research investigation and the architectural solutions of the problem.