Baguio City has taken a significant step in its fight against violence against women (VAW) by establishing the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) through a city council ordinance passed on January 13, 2025. This initiative aims to involve men directly in the campaign to eradicate VAW, recognizing that men are often the perpetrators in such cases. Councilor Mylene Yaranon, a co-author of the ordinance, emphasized the importance of men’s active participation in this cause.
MOVE, a program initially promoted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), seeks to engage male employees and community members in preventing VAW. In Baguio, MOVE will work under the supervision of the City’s Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). The group’s objectives include encouraging men to pledge against VAW, proposing and developing actions for full male involvement, forming alliances with other anti-VAW groups, conducting research on VAW’s social impact, and building a resource network to strengthen community ties.
Maria Aplaten, the regional director of DSWD-Cordillera, highlighted the importance of men’s involvement in anti-VAW efforts across the region. She noted that national agencies have also established MOVE groups and are training members to foster VAW-free communities. Aplaten believes that by integrating men into these initiatives, particularly in their workplaces, there will be a cultural shift where men feel ashamed to perpetrate violence against women.
The establishment of MOVE in Baguio City is a proactive measure to not only educate men about their responsibilities towards women but also to actively involve them in creating a safer environment for women and children.