WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION 1.
1. Over the last 7 years from 2004 to 2010, all
PROGRAM
I. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
The Aquino Health Agenda (AHA): Achieving
Universal Health Care for All Filipinos embodied in
Administrative Order No. 2010-0036, dated December
16, 2010 states that poor Filipino families have yet to
experience equity and access to critical health
services. A.0. 2010-0036 further recognizes that the
public hospitals and health facilities have suffered
neglect due to the inadequacy of health budgets in
terms of support for upgrading to expand capacity and
improve quality of services.
AHA also states the poorest of the population are the
main users of government health facilities. This
means that the deterioration and poor quality of many
government health facilities is particularly
disadvantageous to the poor who needs the services
the most.
In 1997, Administrative Order 1-B or the
Establishment of a Women and Children Protection
Unit in All Department of Health (DOH) Hospitals was
promulgated in response to the increasing number of
women and children who consult due to violence,
rape, incest, and other related cases.
Since A.O. 1-B was issued, the partnership
among the Department of Health (DOH), University of
the Philippines Manila, the Child Protection Network
Foundation, several local government units,
development partners and other agencies resulted in
the establishment of women and child protection units
(WCPUs) in DOH-retained and Local Government
Unit (LGU) -supported hospitals. As of 2011, there are
38 working WCPUs in 25 provinces of the country.
For the past years, there have been attempts to
increase the number of WCPUs especially in DOH-
retained hospitals but they have been unsuccessful
for many reasons.
The experience of these 38 women and children
protection units reflect that:
becoming an essential health service
these WCPUs handled an average of 6,224 addressing the needs of victims of violence
new cases with a mean increase of 156 against women and children.
percent. The 2010 statistics presented a
record high of 12,787 new cases and an
The strategies espoused by the AHA,
average of 79.86 percent increase from
specifically the service delivery network (SDN) and
2009. More than 59 percent were cases of
public-private partnership (PPP), will be utilized in the
sexual abuse; more than 37 percent were
institutionalization of the women and children
physical abuse and the rest on neglect,
protection program nationwide. A health SDN is
combined sexual and physical abuse and
composed of a network of health service providers at
minor perpetrators. More than 50 percent of
different levels of care from levels 1: health centers or
these new cases were obtained from
women and childrens desks offering primary
WCPUs based in highly urbanized areas
services, 2: district health facilities offering secondary
across the country. Figures show there is a
care and 3: regional and national hospitals with
need to continue to raise awareness on
tertiary care. An SDN can be as small as an Inter-
domestic violence to have more accurate
Local Health Zone or as large as a regional SDN with
recording and reporting;
a regional hospital serving as the end-referral
2. The National Demographic and Health
hospital. The most efficient system for women and
Survey of 2008 reveals that one in five
child protection facilities follows the SDN model where
women aged 15-49 are physically abused
a complete and integrated women and child
and one out of 10 of the same age group
protection unit is located in a strategic hospital.
are sexually abused. This figure runs into
millions of abused women nationwide who
do not seek any help or assistance; The primary goal is to identify where the women
3. A consistent and adequate budget is and children protection units will be located across the
necessary to sustain a women and children country and to ensure that there will be at least one in
protection unit once it is established; each province. Hospitals, whether public or private,
4. The source of budget cited in A.O. 1-B is which do not have a women and child protection unit
subjected to multiple interpretations and is may be trained to refer the victims to women and
dependent on the priorities of the local chief children protection coordinators (WCPCs) and
executive and/or the healthcare facility WCPUs in other hospitals where the staff is trained in
management; recognizing, recording, reporting and referring abuse
5. There is no standard quality of service; cases. This will ensure that all women and children
6. Doctors and social workers are reluctant to victims of violence who seek medical care have
take on the task due to heavy workload of access to health services provided by trained,
women and child protection work, lack of competent, and caring health personnel.
training and feeling of inadequacy, and the
nature of work, which among others
II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
requires responding to subpoenas and
appearing in court;
7. All the WCPUs are being managed by part- GOAL: To institutionalize and standardize the quality
time personnel who are given add-on of service and training of all women and children
responsibilities and their appointments are protection units.
not classified as regular plantilla positions;
8. Women and child protection work is a new
field and a pool of professionals must be GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
recruited and trained to sustain the work;
and 1. Establish at least one women and children
9. Women and children protection work has protection unit in every province;
gone beyond being a health advocacy to
2. Ensure that all health facilities have competent
and trained gender-responsive professionals who will
coordinate the services needed by women and
children victims of violence;
3. Standardize and maintain the quality of health
care services rendered by all women and children
protection units;
4. Ensure the sustainability of women and childrens
protection unit programs through appropriate
organizational and budgetary support;
5. Create and maintain a centralized and
harmonized database for all reports submitted by the
different women and children protection units.
III. SCOPE AND COVERAGE
This issuance shall apply to the entire health
sector, including the DOH hospitals, LGU-supported
health facilities, private hospitals, and other attached
agencies involved in the implementation of the AHA.
Health professionals from private hospitals
seeing patients who they suspect are victims of abuse
are duty-bound to refer the said individuals to
concerned government agencies for appropriate
response in accord with either Republic Act Nos.
7610 [1] or 9262[2].
IV. DECLARATION OF POLICY
This issuance supports the Government Health
Reform Agenda, the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform
for Action, the Child Protection Law,[3] the Anti-
Violence Against Women and Their Childrens Act of
2004,[4] Anti-Rape Act of 1998,[5] the Rape Victim
Assistance and Protection Act of 1998[6], and the
Magna Carta of Women (2009).[7]
The DOH shall thereby contribute to the realization of
the countrys goal of eliminating all forms of gender-
based violence and promoting social justice.[8]
V. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
This issuance is governed by the following
principles:
1. Rights-based approach. Identification and
treatment of violence against women and children is
anchored on respect for and recognition of the rights
of women and children as mandated by the Philippine
Constitution, the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Beijing
Platform for Action.
2. Best interest of the child. All actions concerning
victims of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment shall take
full account of the childrens best interests. All
decisions regarding children shall be based upon the
needs of individual children, taking into account their
development and evolving capacities so that their
welfare is of paramount importance. This
necessitates careful consideration of the childrens
physical, emotional/psychological, developmental and
spiritual needs. Adequate care shall be provided by
multidisciplinary child protection teams when the
parents and/or guardians fail to do so. In cases
whether there is doubt or conflict, the principle of the
best interest of the child shall prevail.
3. Holistic service delivery. Care focused on the
whole person addressing the bio-medical, psycho-
social, and legal concerns.
4. Respect for diversity and non-discrimination.
Holistic and appropriate health care delivered shall be
coupled with respect for cultural, religious,
developmental (including special needs), gender and
sexual orientation, and socio-economic diversity. All
women and children victims of violence shall have a
right to receive medical treatment, care, and psycho-
social interventions.
5. Evidence-based interventions and approaches.
Policies and guidelines shall be developed in
accordance with recent data gathered through
prevalence surveys, efficacy studies, and other
research done locally and internationally.
Recommendations from international organizations
may also be utilized when appropriate.
6. Multidisciplinary approach. Recognition,
reporting, and care management of cases involving
violence against women and children are be best
achieved through medical, psycho-social, and legal
teamwork including the mental health intervention and
local government unit response and cooperation,
whenever necessary.
VI. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND GUIDELINES
1. Committee on Women and Children Protection
Program. The Committee on Women and Children
Protection Program, hereinafter referred to as the
Committee, shall be primarily responsible for
policymaking, coordinating, monitoring, and
overseeing the implementation of this revised
issuance.
2. Composition. - The Committee shall be
composed of the following:
a. Undersecretary of Health Service Delivery as ex
officio Chairperson;
b. Undersecretary for the Local Affairs of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government or
his/her authorized representative;
c. Undersecretary for Policy of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development or his/her authorized
representative;
d. A regional director of the Department of Health;
e. A hospital director of a DOH-retained hospital;
f. Executive Director of the Philippine Commission
for Women;
g. Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare
of Children;
h. Executive Director of the Child Protection Network
Foundation;
i. One representative each from the Philippine
Pediatrics Society, the Philippine Obstetrics and
Gynecological Society, Inc., the Philippine Psychiatric
Association, the Philippine Psychological Association,
the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine, the
Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Philippine
Academy of Family Physicians, Inc.
The Chairperson shall appoint a Vice-Chair from
among the Committee members who shall preside
over the meeting in the formers absence.
The Committee shall designate from among its
members a program manager who will be given
appointment by the Undersecretary of Health through
a Department Personnel Order.
The Committee may create a technical working
group, as the need arises, to help it in the
performance of its functions.
3. Term. The Committee shall hold office for three
(3) years and may be reappointed or until their
successors shall have been appointed.
4. Functions. The Committee shall have the
following functions:
1. Identify and recommend strategically-
located DOH-retained and LGU-supported
hospitals for WCPU establishment using
geographical and population ratio criteria;
2. Formulate standard protocols and
procedures and the manual of operations
for multidisciplinary care for women and
children victims of abuse and violence;
3. Set the policy for criteria and procedure for
accreditation of women and children
protection units to be forwarded to the
Bureau of Standards and Regulation for
appropriate action by the Department of
Health (DOH);
4. Lay down the policy for minimum
requirements for training programs that are
gender responsive, such as the Certificates
for Women and Child Protection Specialty
Program and other relevant residency
programs;
5. Monitor and evaluate the efficacy,
effectiveness and sustainability of creation,
operations, and maintenance of WCPUs;
6. Recommend policy reforms and new
guidelines anchored on evidence-based
interventions and approaches;
7. Harmonize existing databases and create a
central databank for women and children
protection cases; and
8. Perform other functions as may be
necessary for the implementation of the
revised issuance.
5. Reportorial Functions. The Committee shall
submit to the Office of the Secretary of Health its
annual report on policies, plans, programs and
activities on or before the last working day of
February.
6. Meetings. The Committee shall meet regularly
at least once every quarter. The venue shall be
agreed upon by the members. Special meetings may
be requested by the Chairperson or any Committee
member, as the need arises.
The Committee members and program manager
shall be entitled to an honorarium for every meeting.
VII. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
PARTNER AGENCIES
A. Department of Health at the National Level
1. The Committee shall be under the direct
supervision of the Office of the
Undersecretary for Health Services
Delivery.
2. The specific office/s to be designated by the
Undersecretary for Health Services Delivery
shall be primarily responsible for:
a. The overall execution of the revised policy and
manual of operations on Women and Children
Protection Program;
b. Accreditation of WCPUs;
c. Generation mobilization of resources for the
operations of WCPUs.
B. Philippine Health Insurance Office (PhilHealth)
The PhilHealth shall develop a service package for all
WCPU patients that will facilitate the provision of
inpatient and outpatient services.
C. Centers for Health Development
1. Disseminate the policy for adoption and
implementation by LGU health systems in
the different localities within their respective
regions;
2. Provide technical assistance to LGUs in
organizing WCPU activities and developing
relevant technical references and
information, education and communication
(IEC) materials;
3. Generate resources to strengthen the
implementation of the policy and manual of
operations for WCPUs;
4. Formulate and implement advocacy plans
to generate stakeholders support,
particularly the local officials;
5. Monitor the implementation of the policy
and guidelines in both public and private
hospitals, and in different localities in their
respective regions;
6. Undertake regular review with LGUs on the
progress of the WCPU policy and
guidelines.
D. Local Government Units
1. Provincial / City Health Office
a. Train private and public health workers on the
women and children protection program;
b. Advocate with municipalities/cities and other
concerned agencies and stakeholders to adopt and
implement the revised policy on the women and
children protection program;
c. Generate and allocate resources in support of
WCPU provision (e.g., counterpart funds for training,
procurement of additional WCPUs, etc);
d. Require all hospitals to implement the revised
policy and its manual of operation as an integral part
of their treatment and care protocols.
2. Regional and provincial hospitals
a. Require all hospitals to implement the revised
policy and its manual of operation as an integral part
of their treatment and care protocols;
a. Allocate budget sufficient for the operations of
WCPUs;
b. Conduct training and orientation on 4Rs;
c. Maintain an accurate and complete database on
WCPU clients.
D. Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc.
1. Provide expertise and technical support for
the establishment of WCPUs and the
central database on childrens cases;
2. Extend guidance to the trained physicians
and social workers in WCPUs;
3. Coordinate with the Philippine Commission
for Women, Council for the Welfare of
Children and non-government organizations
(NGOs) regarding matters related to
womens and childrens health and gender
concerns;
4. Participate in the implementation of the
WCPU policy including its manual of
operations.
E. Philippine Commission on Women
1. Provide expertise and technical assistance
on gender-responsive delivery of services
by the WCPU service providers and the
central database on womens cases;
2. Assist the DOH in monitoring the
implementation of the WCPU using the
Performance Standards and Assessment
Tools for Services Addressing VAW in the
Philippines;
3. Require all hospitals to allocate from their
gender and development (GAD) budget the
funds required to create, operate, and
maintain WCPUs and to report the use of
their GAD funds to PCW.
VIII. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION UNITS
The Committee shall ensure that all present and
future WCPUs comply with the criteria mandated in
this revised policy and its Manual of Operations.
All WCPUS, depending on the number of their
personnel, range of services rendered, and annual
budget shall be classified as Levels I, II and III
facilities. Minimum criteria for each of these units are
enumerated in the Manual of Operations of this
policy.
XI. MANUAL OF OPERATIONS
The Committee on Women and Children
Protection Program shall regulate the establishment
and operations of all WCPUs in the Philippines.
I. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL
HOSPITALS
A. Training. The Committee shall require that all
hospital personnel undergo training on the
recognition, reporting, recording and referral (4Rs) of
cases of violence against women and children.
B. Women and Children Protection Coordinator.
Hospitals without a women and children protection
unit shall have a women and children protection
coordinator (WCPC) responsible for coordinating the
management and referral of all violence against
women and children cases in the hospital.
II. The minimum standard criteria shall be
maintained by all WCPUs.
A. Organizational Structure - The WCPU shall:
1. Be an integral part of the hospital;
2. Be under the Office of the Chief of Clinics;
3. Be supervised by a WCPU head who shall
have the following responsibilities:
a. Integrate and operationalize the
multidisciplinary functions of the WCPU
b. Prepare the annual work and financial
plan, including budget preparation,
4. Submit quarterly reports to the Office of the
Undersecretary for Health Services Delivery.
5. Have the following minimum staff, preferably
with regular plantilla positions, who shall be primarily
responsible to the WCPU:
a. a trained physician and
b. a trained social worker.
B. Facilities - The WCPU shall:
1. Be permanently situated in a designated
area, preferably near the emergency room
of the hospital;
2. Be spacious enough to accommodate all
the services provided by the facility, such
as:
a. A separate room for interviews and crisis
counselling
b. A separate room for medical examination;
c. A reception area to accommodate those
waiting to be served, including their companions. The
reception area must have culture- and gender-
sensitive information materials on violence against
women and children (VAWC)
d. Filing cabinets and other
furniture/equipment that will ensure the security and
confidentiality of files and records;
 3. Have its own toilet or comfort room; Minimum medical services in the form of A trained police officer or a trained
4. Have the following fixtures: medico-legal examination, acute medical mental health professional.
a. Examination table treatment, minor surgical treatment,
b. Desk and chairs monitoring & follow-up
c. Washing facilities with clean running 2. Services
water
In the preparation of the medico-legal
certificate and report, the WCPU shall
d. Light source, and
e. Telephone line
utilize the terminology and the form Medical services similar to a Level I
attached as Annexes A and B, WCPU including rape kits and surgical
f. Computer and printer
respectively, to this Manual of Operations intervention.
g. Office supplies
A full coverage, 24/7 In the preparation of the medico-legal
5. Have readily available supplies and Minimum social work intervention such certificate and report, the WCPU shall
equipment for medical examination, as safety (and risk) assessment, utilize the terminology and the form
including: coordination with other disciplines (i.e., attached as Annexes A and B,
Department of Social Welfare and respectively, to this Manual of Operations
a. Digital camera Development (DSWD) or the local social Full coverage, 24/7
b. Rape kit welfare and development office (SWDO), Social work intervention similar to that of
c. Speculum of different sizes police, legal, NGOs) a Level I WCPU plus case management
d. Blood tubes Peer review of cases and case conferences
e. Syringes, needles and sterile swabs Proper documentation and record- Additional services in the form of police
f. Examination gloves keeping investigation or mental health care
g. Pregnancy testing kits Expert testimony in court Proper documentation and record-
h. Microscope slides
i. Measuring devices like rulers and calipers Networks with other disciplines and keeping using the Child Protection
agencies Management Information System
j. Urine specimen containers
(CPMIS)
k. Refrigerator for storage of specimens
l. Analgesics, medicines for STI 3. Training Capability
Expert testimony in court
prophylaxis, and emergency contraceptives Peer review of cases
m. Labels Availability of specialty consultations
n. Medical forms including consent forms and Training on 4Rs (ENT, ophthalmology, surgery, OB-Gyne,
anatomical diagrams pathology)
o. Colposcope (Optional)
p. Video camera for recording the forensic
4. Research Networks with other disciplines and
interview (optional) agencies.
q. Tape recorder (optional) Proper documentation of experiences
which will serve as inputs for policy 3. Training Capability
III. LEVELS OF CARE DELIVERED BY WCPUs research, formulation and program
improvement
Training on 4Rs
A. Level I WCPU Residency training
B. Level II WCPU
1. Personnel 4. Research
1. Personnel

A trained physician, and Proper documentation of experiences

A trained and registered social worker.
2. Services. A level I WCPU provides
A trained physician; which will serve as inputs for policy
A trained and registered social worker, research, formulation and program
also with full-time coverage of duties at improvement
the WCPU; and
C. Level III WCPU
1. Personnel
At least two (2) trained physicians;
At least two (2) trained and registered
social workers;
A registered nurse;
A trained police officer; and
A mental health professional
2. Services
Medical services of a Level 2 WCPU
In the preparation of the medico-legal
certificate and report, the WCPU shall
utilize the terminology and the form
attached as Annexes A and B,
respectively, to this Manual of Operations
Full coverage, 24/7
Social work intervention of a Level 2
WCPU capacity plus long-term case
management
Mental health care
Police investigation
Nursing services
Peer review of cases
Death review
Proper documentation and record-
keeping using the CPMIS
Expert testimony in court
Availability of specialty consultations (i.e.,
ENT, ophthalmology, surgery, OB-gyne,
pathology)
Other support services (i.e., livelihood,
educational)
Networks with other discipline and
agencies
Availability of subspecialty consultations
(e.g., child development, forensic
psychiatry, forensic pathology)
3. Training Capability
Training on 4Rs
Competence and facility to run residency
training and specialty trainings
4. Research
Proper documentation of experiences
which will serve as inputs for policy
research, formulation and program
improvement;
Conduct of empirical investigations on
women and children protection work;
Publication of such research studies in
reputable journals and/or presentation in
scientific conferences or meetings.
IV. TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN WOMEN
AND CHILDREN PROTECTION
A multi-disciplinary training program will
address human resource needs of women and child
protection units and womens and childrens desk as
well as create and sustain a woman- and child-
sensitive hospital environment. The women and
children protection program in the central office will
set directions and define a career path for medical
and paramedical graduates who might be interested
in professionally pursuing this line of work. This will be
made available not only to hospital personnel but to
community and interested organizations that would
like to avail of the training. Training areas may focus
on the following:
1. For trainees to acquire/enhance attitudes
necessary in the management of acute and
chronic causes of crisis such as sensitivity,
compassion, confidentiality and empathy.
2. For the trainees to develop/strengthen their
skills in early detection, screening,
interviewing, physical examination, use of
appropriate diagnostic procedures,
management, counseling and referral.
3. For the trainees to have additional
knowledge on understanding of conditions
leading to crisis, recognition of early sign of
crisis identification, analysis of
aggravating/contributory factors including
family factors/stresses, understanding of
the impact of crisis on the individual the
family and the community management of
patients and their families networking,
linkage development and referral.
V. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF A TRAINED
WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION
SPECIALIST
1. Physician
Six (6)-week Child Protection Specialist
Training for Physicians of the Child
Protection Network Foundation or its
equivalent
2. Social Worker
Four (4) -week Child Protection
Specialist Training for Social Workers of
the Child Protection Network Foundation
or its equivalent
3. Police Officer
Four (4)-week Child Protection Specialist
Training for Police Officers of the Child
Protection Network Foundation or its
equivalent