Villar to support center for women

CEBU, Philippines - Cynthia Villar, a former congresswoman of Las Piñas City, yesterday promised to support the operation of the regional center in Cebu City for women-victims of abuse.

Villar was in Cebu to speak during the convention of barangay captains from Province of Cavite.

She told reporters that during her term as chairperson of the Congressional Spouses Foundation from 1998 to 2000, they were able to construct 11 regional centers and one of these is the regional center built in barangay Labangon.

Villar said the center is giving immediate attention to the needs of the victims of sexually abused women and children. She further said that they constructed the buildings while the personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development man its operations.

She said the DSWD was tasked to provide the necessary furniture and use the center to help women and she wants to continue this program.

Villar, who is now the managing director of the Villar Foundation, Inc. served as president of the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. from August 2006 to December 2008, during which the foundation raised twenty five million pesos for the rehabilitation of charity wards at the Philippine General Hospital.

Meanwhile, Villar said that aside from her concern on women and children who were sexually abused, she also has advocacies for the protection of environment.

“Recent disasters in our country, as well as in other parts of the world, are bitter reminders of how continued neglect and abuse of the environment result in massive destruction and even death. Many have become more vigilant and involved in environment protection efforts, if we could only sustain that, then we are on the right track”, said Villar.  (FREEMAN)