Strengthening Medical and Social Protection Systems for Women and Children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

Violence against women and children remains a severe and persistent social issue in the Philippines, prompting urgent calls for strengthened national responses. According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children conducted nationwide in 2022, 80% of surveyed youth aged 13–24 reported having experienced some form of violence, with 22.4% having suffered sexual violence. Yet fewer than 10% of those who had experienced violence sought help from public authorities, revealing the extent to which cases remain hidden and unaddressed [1].

Police statistics paint a similarly alarming picture: in 2023 alone, 18,756 cases of violence against children were reported, including 7,933 cases of child abuse and 7,262 rape cases. Authorities acknowledge that the situation shows little sign of improvement [2]. Furthermore, violence against women is widespread; the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey indicates that 18% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives [3].

Together, these data reveal that violence—particularly against women and children—is deeply rooted and significantly underreported, and that existing support mechanisms remain insufficient. Building a comprehensive protection system is therefore essential.

To address this need, the Philippine Department of Health issued Administrative Order 2013 0011 2013 0011 (Revised Policy on the Establishment of Women and Their Children Protection Units in All Government Hospitals), mandating the establishment of Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs) in all government hospitals. As of March 2026, 101 WCPUs have been established nationwide, providing services to approximately 200,000 survivors. 

WCPUs serve as specialized hospital-based centers where survivors of abuse—women and children—can access comprehensive medical, psychological, social, and legal assistance. These units were developed by the Child Protection Network Foundation in partnership with the government and various developmental partners, with multidisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, social workers, police officers, and others providing coordinated, trauma informed care based on shared protocols.
 

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[1] Ramiro, L. S. et al. (2022). “National Baseline Study on Violence against Children and Youth (NBS VAC) in the Philippines.” Acta Medica Philippina. https://actamedicaphilippina.upm.edu.ph/index.php/acta/article/view/5062
[2] Panoringan, H. (2024). “Over 18,000 child violence cases in the Philippines in 2023.” Smart Parenting. https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/news/pnp-18k-child-violence-cases-2023-a6837-20241025
[3] Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), & ICF. (2023). “Philippines Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Key Indicators Report (PR146).” DHS Program. https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/PR146/PR146.pdf

However, BARMM has faced significant challenges in establishing WCPUs.

Decades of armed conflict have weakened governance systems, and security risks continue due to persistent clan feuds (rido). Chronic poverty—among the highest in the country—together with limited health and education infrastructure has further constrained institutional development. The Bangsamoro government, established in 2019, also requires time to build robust administrative and legal systems, while political instability and delayed elections have slowed policy implementation. Moreover, low literacy levels contribute to shortages of trained professionals, and cultural norms that emphasize family honor and silence discourage the reporting of gender‑based violence, diminishing its visibility and policy priority.

WCPUs employ an integrated, multidisciplinary model that brings together medical care, psychological support, social welfare services, and justice mechanisms. Because violence is never just a medical issue, but one intertwined with welfare and legal systems, WCPUs offer coordinated services—medical treatments, psychosocial care, welfare case management, coordination with police and legal assistances—all in one location.

This model significantly reduces survivors’ burdens and helps prevent retraumatization. A formal agreement with the police in 1999 institutionalized police involvement in WCPUs, and coordination with the Philippine Bar Association have been strengthened access to legal support.

WCPUs also play a crucial national role as a public-health-and-policy mechanism. Data collected across WCPUs are centrally consolidated and used as evidence for legislative reforms, including the landmark revision that raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years.

Recognizing severe service gaps in BARMM, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) supported the establishment of WCPUs and related capacity-building programs between 2024 and 2026.

To establish a WCPU, the hospital team—comprising physicians, nurses, and social workers—must complete the Women and Children Protection Specialty Training (CWCPST), which consists of three sequential steps:

Step 1: 4Rs - Recognizing, Recording, Reporting, and Referral- Training
Foundational training on handling violence cases.

Step 2: Multidisciplinary Team Training
Practical training on interprofessional coordination across medical, legal, welfare, and policing sectors.

Step 3: Women and Children Protection Specialty Training (CWCPST)

• Phase 1: Lectures
• Phase 2: Two-week practicum at a certified training center

In BARMM, many hospitals had completed Step 1 and 2 but could not proceed to Step 3 due to infrastructure, internet connectivity, and funding constraints. Yet completing Step 3 is the decisive requirement for establishing a WCPU—making it the critical bottleneck.

SPF directly addressed this gap by enabling the implementation of Step 3, contributing significantly to strengthening the regional protection system where formal mechanisms had long been absent.

2. CWCPST Practicum (2025–2026)
Six district hospitals completed the entire practicum curriculum including real patient handling (minimum five cases), database management, multidisciplinary case conferences, and mock-testimony exercises—and formally established WCPUs.

Hospitals where new WCPUs were established:

• Sulu Province [4]
  1. Panamao District Hospital
  2. Maimbung District Hospital
   
• Lanao del Sur Province
  3. Wao District Hospital
  4. Unayan District Hospital
   
• Maguindanao Province
  5. Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital
  6. Buluan District Hospital
   

These areas had previously lacked any government-run one‑stop service for survivors, making the establishment of hospital-based WCPUs a transformative step for women and children seeking integrated care.

 

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3. Trauma‑Informed Care Training (January 2026)
To address long‑standing gaps in mental health services in BARMM and Mindanao, SPF conducted training focused on trauma dynamics, survivor‑centered engagement, and staff self‑care.

A total of 23 WCPUs from BARMM and greater Mindanao participated, enhancing peer learning and inter‑unit cooperation.

The project delivered seamless, timely support—from identifying bottlenecks to implementing specialty certification, establishing new WCPUs, conducting monitoring visits, and delivering trauma‑informed care training.

By integrating medical care, social welfare, justice, policing, data systems, and mental health into a unified implementation design—and by achieving formal institutionalization through the MOU—SPF helped build a robust regional network centered on WCPUs.

As a result, BARMM now has a strengthened foundation for survivor support, improving both service quality and accessibility, and laying the groundwork for a durable and comprehensive protection system.