SAFE SPACES. Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan approve a resolution urging the full implementation of the Safe Spaces Act during a session on Monday (Aug.19, 2024). The provincial board urged local government units to adopt Republic Act 11313 or pass an ordinance for its full implementation. (Screenshot from PIMRO's live stream)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan on Monday approved a resolution urging local government units (LGUs) to adopt Republic Act (RA) 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, or pass an ordinance for its full implementation.
Board member Rosary Gracia Tababa said despite the enactment of the law on April 17, 2019, numerous reports of gender-based harassment incidents still surfaced in the province, indicating gaps in the implementation and the need for more comprehensive and concerted effort for all LGUs across the province.
“The LGUs play crucial role in addressing concern for all constituents against any form of gender-based abuse,” she said during the board session.
Full implementation of Safe Spaces Act requires collaboration and active participation to ensure safe spaces regardless of gender, sexual preferences, and sexual orientation, she said.
Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, in an interview, said the provincial government is encouraging all the municipalities and cities to comply with the resolution.
“We are leaving it to the LGUs to adopt or if they are going to make more specific adjustments to their local ordinances,” he said, adding that each of LGU may have different specific ordinances in the implementation of the law.
The Safe Spaces Act primarily aims to protect individuals from gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces, online spaces, work-spaces, and educational and training institutions.
The law addresses catcalling or unwanted remarks directed towards a person, commonly done in the form of wolf-whistling, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs; as well as unwanted invitations, sexist remarks or slurs; and statements that are indicative of prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis of sex, typically against women. (PNA)
