City Councilor Karel Annjaiza Sakkalahul, chairperson of the SP Committee on Women, Children and Family Affairs and Committee on Gender and Development and proponent of Ordinance No. 22-867 otherwise known as “The Safe Spaces Ordinance of Isabela City”, gave an in-depth discussion on the salient provisions of the law, highlighting the prohibited acts, penalties and duties and liabilities of the different implementing offices. The author of the law also presented the Anti-Sexual Harassment (ASH) Referral mechanism of the City Government of Isabela and its ASH hotline operations.

Meanwhile, the GAD Unit delivered sessions and workshop on Basic GAD Concepts and Social Institutions and Gender-Based Sexual Harassment (GBSH) in Educational and Training Institutions. Jeanette Rojas of the GAD Unit, emphasized that ensuring safe spaces for all is a shared responsibility, thus requires involvement of all school stakeholders including the learners. The discussion centered on the duties and liabilities of the school heads and the need for the development of the Code of Conduct and the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) as an internal grievance mechanism of the school. The ICPS-WCPD also presented data on the cases of GBSH and VAW in Isabela City.

Led by the School Assistant Principal Melba Ramirez, the collaborative learning session was actively participated by the ICEPS teaching staff from all grade levels including the subject teachers, night class faculty and Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) educators. (Words by J. Rojas, GAD/Photos by A. Taghap and J. Taghap, CIO)