As it continues to campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW), the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development, the Housing Arm of the BARMM oriented the Darussalam community in Barangay Banubo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Republic Act 11596, also known as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law on December 9, 2024.

Zuhaira U. Ebrahim, RN, GAD Coordinator, said the orientation served as a pilot to gauge the feasibility for future, similar activities to be provided to all of the MHSD’s Darussalam Villages.

“Currently, the MHSD is looking to provide the activity from the villages close to the Regional Office, such as Maguindanao, and expand outward, hoping to reach even the island provinces,” she added.

Bai Fajar M. Mokamad, Social Welfare Officer I from the Women’s Welfare Program of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), concisely detailed the contents of RA 11596, an act prohibiting the practice of child marriage and imposing penalties for violations thereof.

She first levelled off the terms used, such as the differences between the use of sex and gender, then emphasized the need to re-explain the contents of her topic to the children present during the sharing. She also shared the Referral Pathway in case victims or those who witness VAW need to make a report.

The Referral Pathway is a coordinated framework that ensures a multidisciplinary response to such cases.

Hon. Hyder A. Abas, Brgy. Chairperson was present throughout the program and he also welcomed the MHSD and MSSD to the village. He entertained questions specific to the Local Government, such as the availability of the Barangay’s pink room and contact persons of the Referral Pathway.

After the open forum, residents received hygiene kits from the MSSD and tokens from the MHSD.

Director Atty. Marvin D. Mokamad of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, represented by Aga Mokamad, shared his wholehearted support to the activity and regretted being unable to personally attend due to having been consigned to another equally important event.

The activity was facilitated by GAD Coordinator Ebrahim with the Housing and Human Settlements Division and the MHSD-Maguindanao, led by Provincial Director  Noroden S. Abdullah.

Darussalam Villages refer to the communities established through the resettlement housing projects implemented by the MHSD in the BARMM and even outside the region that are heading toward progress, peace, and resilience.

The 50 families of the Darussalam Village in Brgy. Banubo took residency on May 15, this year after the awarding ceremony conducted by the MHSD.