AMID the rising cases of sexual abuse in certain areas of the country, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos ordered the national police to double efforts in protecting young girls.

“I was surprised na merong lugar na hindi nakawan, hindi cybercrme, kung hindi number one crime is rape,” the DILG chief said.

Abalos was the guest of the 49th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in Binondo, Manila last Thursday where he expressed alarm on reports of rape of minors.

He ordered the PNP to exert extra efforts in protecting young women and intensify the implementation of its ‘Kuwarto ni Nene’ program in communities where there were marked increase in sexual abuse cases against young girls.

“Kuwarto ni Nene” is a project of the PNP designed to protect young girls and ensure their safety from sexual predators.

“I asked the PNP, we have this program it’s called Kwarto ni Nene. Where we give out (building) materials para yung mga nagdadalaga, (dapat) may sariling kwarto na. Hinihiwalay na,” Abalos said.

Under the program, women cops and social welfare officers are urged to give these young girls regular visit to see to it they are fine.

At the same time, the DILG head bared during the event that the government is also exploring the possibility of issuing a policy urging overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to inform their barangays of their departure.

The objective is for women officers from the barangay, police, and social welfare officials to conduct regular visitations on OFWs’ houses and check on the situation and condition of their children.

A survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15 to 49 have experienced forms of physical, sexual, and emotional violence from their intimate partners.

Meanwhile, Abalos congratulated PCW for their efforts on women and gender equality in the country.

The Philippines continues to be the leading Asian country in closing the gender gap according to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index Report by the World Economic Forum.

“Ayon sa report, Pilipinas pa rin ang itinuturing na most gender-equal country sa buong Asya matapos makuha ang 16th spot out of 146 countries sa buong mundo. Congratulations, PCW!” he said.

PCW is an attached agency of the DILG and the primary policy-making and coordinating body on women and gender equality in the country.