Philippines RSAC Office and Clinic Open – Baguio City



The RINJ Foundation has opened its first clinic in The Republic of The Philippines.

RSAC Baguio will also serve as the Philippines HQ office as the planned Manila and Davao clinics begin to take form.

Current official estimates following the 2015 census indicate a population in excess of 105 million. The country has had a declining total fertility rate from 4,8 in 1980 to 3.6 in 1998 to an estimated 3.2 in 2016. This is indicative of a rapidly developing nation. We await the census results from 2015 but expect further, positive indicators.

Every 53 minutes a woman or child is raped in the Philippines. In mid-April, 2016, The RINJ Foundation from its Baguio City RSAC filed a total of five charges in Pasay City, Manila and in Lagawe, Ifugao with more to come as the government of President Duterte settles into it’s role of prosecuting and preventing this rampant crime in the Philippines. In this instance of prosecutions the travel time was over 32 hours and the processes themselves took many days and more than a few legal arguments. These facts emphasize the challenges that lie ahead for the government of President Rodrigo Duterte and his emphatic promises of change in law enforcement and gender equality.

Speaking on the subject at The RINJ Foundation’s RSAC-Baguio office, the foundation’s executive director noted that, “rape has been one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women (VAW) in the Philippines. President Duterte has been quoted during a raucous election as  a ‘rape-culture’ contributor decades ago but he, [like the times] has promised change.”

“That change is  good, because as we all get older and wiser, we see our mistakes of the past and must move forward with positive change. President Duterte has promised that, a promise we accept, and we expect that change.”

“After all,” he noted, “the electorate of the Philippines has spoken very loudly for “CHANGE” and President Duterte has clearly and loudly declared his plans for change which all peoples of the Philippines, and friends around the world, should help his government advance for the benefit of  Filipino children and their families.”

  • The Greater Manila Metropolitan region has a population of around 16 million and may well be the rape capital of the Philippines.
  • The RINJ Foundation has adopted a role in the Philippines while supporting and caring for survivors, to also gather and compile detailed information on parties to armed conflict that are credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for acts of rape or other forms of sexual violence.
  • The RSACs offer free medical care to women and children and their families. Community related services such as victim advocacy, crisis hotlines, community outreach, & education programs are provided based on each RSAC’s resources at the discretion of the local RSAC nurse-led team.
  • Manila will not be a typical public health clinic but a full service metro-center rape clinic capable of full forensic evidence collection and health care for rape and gender-based violence survivors. Please wait for further announcements this year.

Street children in Manila where the next RSAC Opens

Panoramic View of Baguio City From the North Looking South

The mountain under the setting sun is the location of the clinic. 

 

The neighbors behind the clinic on the mountain side along Marcos Highway (to Manila). 

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