Guidebook for Lanao women, peace center launched

LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines – The Lanao del Sur provincial government now has an operation guide book for its women and peace center, a venue for enterprise development and peace-building activities.

Salma Jayne Tamano, Lanao del Sur’s provincial information officer, on Saturday said the manual was launched early this week at the provincial capitol in Marawi City.

The center, established with the help of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), is located inside the capitol compound in Marawi City.

Tamano said the symbolic launching rite was led by representatives from OPAPP, from the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and key Lanao del Sur provincial officials.

She said the center shall provide free comprehensive gender-responsive programs and services to women in Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns scattered in two congressional districts.

The facility shall also function as a conduit for interventions needed by victims of violence against women and children or VWAC, a concern the government is trying to address extensively.

Tamano said Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Alonto-Adiong is grateful to OPAPP for helping the provincial government establish the center.