The 90 women lawmakers in the House of Representatives agreed to build a crisis center for women and girls to help address the rising problem of mental health in the country.
The plan was announced during the general assembly of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Incorporated (AWLFI) last November 18 at the House of Representatives.
AWLFI founder and co-President Gina de Venecia (4th district, Pangasinan) said the AWLFI will build the first Crisis Center for Women and Girls that will provide mental wellness services for women and girls in crisis settings.
“Our National Mental Health Quotient is falling sharply, from 78.44 in 2023 to 68.76 in 2024, even after the passage of the Mental Health Act in 2018, referring to a study conducted by Sapien Labs, a non-profit global organization with a mission to understand and enable the human mind,” De Venecia said.
“Behind that drop are real people — students, mothers, friends — whose everyday struggles have grown heavier. The national statistics also reveal that suicide rates have climbed over the past three years, with teenagers bearing the brunt of this loss,” she added.
De Venecia noted that the Crisis Center for Women and Girls is a three-party undertaking between the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DOH (Department of Health) and AWLFI.
AWLFI co-President Linabelle Villarica (4th district, Bulacan) said, “We have already identified the lot where the first Crisis Center will rise. The DSWD has committed to assign a parcel of land measuring 5,000 square meters, within The Haven for Women compound in Alabang.”
De Venecia added that foremost architect Dan Lichauco did the design of the first Crisis Center for Women and Girls, free of charge out of love.
To realize this dream of building the first Crisis Center for Women and Girls, AWLFI co-presidents De Venecia and Villarica sought the support of House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy, who agreed to help make this dream project a reality.
“The plan is simple,” De Venecia continued. “We will adopt the prototype of the three The Havens, established by the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI). After they were built and set-up by the CSFI, they were turned over to the DSWD for management.”
De Venecia served as President of CSFI during the 9th, 10th,12th, 13th and 14th Congress. They were able to build The Haven for Women and its 15 regional centers, The Haven for Children with four regional centers, and The Haven for the Elderly.
The AWLFI is composed of the 90 women lawmakers in the House of Representatives who champion the causes of women and children.
The other AWLFI officers are: Senior Vice Presidents, Deputy Speakers Janette Garin and Tin Singson-Meehan; Internal Vice President, Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla; External Vice President, Rep. Jinky Luistro; Vice Presidents for National Capital Region, Reps. Queenie Gonzales, Nik Lagdameo and Marivic Co-Pilar; Vice Presidents for Luzon, Reps. Rachel Arenas, Ann Matibag and Mica Gonzales; Vice Presidents for Visayas, Reps. Alexie Tutor, Karen Garcia and Maisa Sagarbarria; Vice Presidents for Mindanao, Reps. Kaka Bag-ao, Audrey Zubiri and Ai Labadlabad; Vice Presidents for Party List, Reps. Girlie Veloso, Sarah Elago and Flora Yatco; Secretaries, Reps. Bing Maniquiz, Gila Garcia and Dadah Ismula; Treasurers, Reps. Maricar Zamora, Cristy Angeles and Patsy Calderon; Auditors, Reps. Giselle Maceda, Karen Lagbas and Jan Degamo; Business Managers, Reps. Ching Bernos, Caroline Tanchay and Kai Javier; Public Relations Officers, Reps. Aniela Tolentino, Jam Baronda and Sam Santos; Legal Counsels: Reps. Leila de Lima, Bel Zamora, Marlyn Agabas and Chedz Alvarez; and Advisers, Reps. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo and Yedda Romualdez.
