Quezon City GAD LLHs: Provision of Gender-responsive Interventions to Address GBV and Promote Sexual Health
Quezon City was one of the seven (7) LGUs recognized by the PCW in 2019 for establishing and sustaining the operations of the Quezon City Protection Center and the Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics.
Quezon City Protection Center
The Quezon City Protection Center (QCPC) was established in accordance with local Ordinance No. SP-2191, s. 2012. The facility is tasked to provide complete interventions and protection services to woman, child, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The mandate of the QCPC to cater to the needs of LGBT victim-survivors was supported with the enactment of the Quezon City Gender-Fair Ordinance (Ordinance No. SP 2357, S-2014) which recognizes the need to address the domestic violence against the LGBT individuals. This Ordinance also encouraged the VAWC Desk of the Quezon City barangays and Police District to handle concerns related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, and closely coordinate with the QCPC.
The QCPC is staffed by experts from different fields of services including doctors (OB-gynecologist, pediatrician, medico-legal), psychologist, nurse, social workers, administrative staff, police officers, and project officers. To enhance their capabilities through trainings on handling violence against women and children (VAWC), the QCPC partnered with the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).
The QCPC adopts a holistic approach to cater to the needs of GBV victim-survivor clients towards healing, recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration to their families through direct interventions and referrals of services of other government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs). From 2018 to 2020, the QCPC has provided free services and interventions to a total of 641 women, children, and LGBTQ victim-survivors of GBV.
The direct services offered by the Center include medico-legal, medical-related, and psychological services, criminal complaint drafting/filing, psychosocial and legal counseling, and accompaniment/support during court hearings. The QCPC also facilitates case follow-up and referral to other to barangays, PNP, PAO, POEA, OWWA, DOJ, BOI, other government offices, and NGOs. In addition, the QCPC refers GBV survivors who feel unsafe to go back to their homes to the Bahay Kanlungan, a complementary facility and temporary shelter launched by the LGU of Quezon City in November 2020. Its proactive services include referrals to livelihood opportunities such as the provision of a sari-sari store package, skills development training, and employment that help victim-survivors regain their confidence and self-reliance.
The QCPC remains committed to deliver complete interventions to victim-survivors of GBV to bring about desired changes in their social functioning particularly to women, children, and LGBTs. Its operation serves as an enabling mechanism that provides immediate response to cases of GBV, an effort that the LGUs may consider replicating. With these, the Center contributes in the achievement of the GEWE Goal on Significant Reduction in Gender-Based Violence and Enhanced Gender Perspective in Justice, Security and Peace.
Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics
The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) paved the way for the creation of the Quezon City Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics (SHSCs). These are Comprehensive Sexual Health Care Clinics under the Quezon City Health Department established in accordance with the enactment of City Ordinance No. SP-2249, s. 2013 or the Ordinance Establishing Klinika Bernardo.
The SHSCs provide diagnostic tests and treatment, and referral to other related medical services to people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and sex characteristics. These clinics administer free, safe, non-discriminatory, and confidential STI and HIV testing (HIV antibody, gram staining, hepatitis B, and syphilis tests, among others) along with counseling services, day and night.
Klinika Bernardo is operated by the medical and clinical personnel of the Quezon City Health Department who serve as the permanent workforce of the clinic. Klinika Bernardo is within the facility of the Bernardo Social Hygiene Clinic. It is the first sundown clinic in the Philippines that solely caters to male clients. As a sundown clinic, the Klinika Bernardo considers the availability of clients who can’t readily visit the clinic during daytime work. Hence, it operates on weekdays from 3 PM until 11 PM to provide access to quality sexual health care services among clients who work at daytime.
Klinika Bernardo served a total of 17, 318 clients between 2018 and 2020. Due to its notable efforts in serving its growing number of clients, Klinika Bernardo has expanded to two (2) more social hygiene clinics namely the Klinika Batasan with 12,211 clients served and the Klinika Project 7 with 9,119 clients served within the three-year period.
Klinika Bernardo has a pool of volunteer peer educators or outreach workers who help in disseminating information on HIV, its prevention, and treatment. In addition, they provide counseling and motivational guidance to Klinika Bernardo’s clientele.
The COVID-19 situation posed a challenge in the operations of the Clinic but to ensure continuous delivery of its services despite the limitations brought by the pandemic, it temporarily adjusted its time of operations to 8 AM to 5 PM since 16 March 2020.
The accomplishments of the Quezon City SHSCs speak for its contribution in the attainment of GEWE goal on accelerating human capital development as it focuses on delivery of sexual health care services to its target clients. The clinics consistently show commitment in responding to HIV cases and other sexual health-related diseases through provision of non-discriminatory interventions as they recognize the rights to care, treatment, and dignity of the people living with HIV. As the number of HIV cases in the country continues to rise that makes it a national health concern, may the LGUs be inspired with the accomplishments of Quezon City SHSC which radiate achievements worthy of replication.
Klinika Bernardo (2nd Floor Satellite Treatment Hub: Klinika Bernardo, Magsaysay Ave., Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City)
Klinika Project 7 (39 Bansalangin Street, Veterans Villages Project 7, Quezon City
Klinika Batasan (#1 IBP Road, Batasan Hills, Quezon City)
GAD LLH Coordinator:
GAD TWG Acting Head Janete Oviedo
Landline/Phone No.: 02-8988-4242 loc. 8732/8739
Email Address: qcgadcouncil2017@gmail.com
GAD Local Learning Hubs:
Abra de Ilog (Likha Iraya)
Aklan (ACCW and MOVE-Aklan Chapter)
Baybay City (BMIS and WEE Program)
Davao City (IGDD, OSC-VAW, CMC, and Ray of Hope Village)
Iloilo (Convergence for Women’s Economic Empowerment Program)
Mabalacat City (Early Childhood Care and Development Program)
Misamis Occidental (PGADO)
Naga (Bantay Familia, GROW Negosyo Program, and Breast Feeding Program)
Palawan (LWC)
Pangasinan (PCIC)
Quezon City (QCPC and Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics)
Quezon Province (PGADO, LKB Program, and 2-in-1 Program)
