In celebration of National Women’s Month and as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and women’s rights, the DILG Regional Office-Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED) conducted the Safer Women Project Planning cum Pre-Assessment Meeting for the 2025 Functionality Assessment of the Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women (LCAT-VAWC) and the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) on March 10, 2025, via Zoom.

This activity aimed to strengthen the capacity of DILG R5 Provincial Focal Persons and their alternates by equipping them with the necessary tools and insights to effectively oversee and support the implementation of programs that protect women and children, promote safer communities, and uphold local governance standards.

With improved coordination and technical guidance, LGUs will be better positioned to enhance their functionality, address gaps in service delivery, and implement sustainable initiatives. This, in turn, is expected to lead to a higher compliance rate and more LGUs successfully passing the functionality assessments, ensuring stronger local mechanisms for the protection of women and children.