Northwestern Visayan Colleges

“Don’t allow cultures that ignore bad behaviours, be the spaces of hope for each other.”

A message from Senator Risa Hontiveros during her talk at Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC), November 23, 2024.

Different Colleges and Universities in the Province of Aklan are invited in the Forum. The event was a collaboration with the Aklan Provincial Government, Gender and Development Office of Aklan, and the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Ma’am Lillian Quimpo-Tirol, representing Northwestern Visayan Colleges as the host institution, extended a warm welcome to attendees at this prestigious event and expressed particular delight at the presence of Senator Risa Hontiveros, highlighting the Senator’s contribution to the event’s significance and expressing gratitude for her participation.

The event, Bawal Bastos Law truly creates an inclusive safe place and promises to be a productive and engaging experience for all.

The “Bawal Bastos” law refers to Republic Act No. 11313, or the “Safe Spaces Act,” signed into law in the Philippines on April 17, 2019. This law aims to prevent and prohibit sexual harassment, catcalling, and other forms of street harassment.

The Safe Spaces Act defines gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment as any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks directed at a person, regardless of the perpetrator’s motive. This encompasses a wide range of behaviors, including

•Catcalling

•Online Gender-Based Sexual Harassment

•Gender-Based Harassment sa Publiko at mga Kalye

The Safe Spaces Act outlines specific penalties for different acts of Gender Based Sexual Harassment (GBSH) in streets and public spaces, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is a first, second, or third offense.

The Forum also has its open discussions about the questions the students have. During the discussion, the following panels have gladly answered each student’s queries.

• Sen. Risa Hontiveros

• SP Jay Tejada

• PCPT. Leo G. Gacho Jr.

• Mr. Paul Adrian Pelayo

• Engr. Lorna Tabuena Cawaling

• Atty. Jude Mangilog

Students from different schools and universities opened up questions regarding the said law, and this set of panels has given sufficient answers to those questions.

“Don’t keep quiet. Kung hindi ngayon, kailan? Kung hindi ikaw? Sino? Kung may mali, magsalita.” – Hon. Jay Tejada

BIKTIMA KA NG PAMBABASTOS?

Tumawag sa:

PRO-6WCPD

0921-800-9941

AKLAN

0948-052-8809

(036) 272 1156

Rape is rape and nothing is valid about it.

: Jelyn Alegre, Senior Staff Writer and Noreen V. Bernas, Senior Staff Writer

: Hyster Marie Tibus, Senior Photojournalist