Some fifty male employees of Catbalogan City Hallhave pledged to support the causes behind MOVE, or the Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere, during an orientation conducted recently by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the DSWD Field Office Eight. They are all one in saying that supporting MOVE will mean a better Catbalogan.

In said affair, newly – inducted president of the MOVE local chapter, Virgilio Rojas, promised to expand membership to husbands of female employees of the City Hall, while vice –president, Victor Pagarao, said that he will no longer be afraid to intervene domestic violence cases in their locality knowing that domestic violence is a crime.

Others who were elected into office were AdorHurtado, secretary; Dennis Cugtas, treasurer; and Eduardo Tabones, auditor.

Meanwhile, CatbaloganMayor Stephanie Uy Tan underscored their roles as very helpful to the peace and order situation in their community, pointing to them as “look – outs” of domestic violence incidents.

The MOVE is an organization of principled men from various sectors of society working to end gender violence and discrimination. Said Federico Pagayanan, president of the MOVE DSWD Field Office Eight chapter, the growing umbrella of men support groups was initiated in 2006 by the Philippine Women Commission which is under the auspices of the Office of the President.

He bared that the DSWD, being the lead in social protection and poverty reduction, is into advocacy on MOVE and in general, Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. Since its organization in 2009, the chapter has gathered a total of 60 members, Pagayanan reported.

The DSWD Field Office Eight headed by Regional Director, RemiaTapispisan, has conducted advocacy for a on the anti-domestic violence law in Borongan, Baybay, Ormoc, Catbalogan, and Tacloban cities, and in Catarman municipality of Northern Samar.