UP-PGH Women's Desk
Philippine General Hospital
Taft Avenue, Manila 1000 Philippines

Contact Nos. (632) 524-2990/ (632) 521-8450 local 3072
E-mail address: womens_desk@yahoo.com

THE UP-PGH WOMEN’S DESK: A BACKGROUND

In 1997, R.A. No. 8805 was approved by the legislative body, which made provisions for the assistance for rape survivors, establishing a rape crisis center in every province and city. It is therefore necessary for the local government unit of government hospitals to coordinate with organizations and to have a Women’s Desk, a crisis center for women survivors of violence. 

        In response to this, the UP-PGH Women’s Desk was established in 1998. The very first coordinator of the Women’s Desk is Dr. Lenora Canizares-Fernandez, a consultant of Pulmonary Medicine. She served as coordinator until 2001. She was succeeded by Dr. Ma. Rosanna de Guzman of the Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Also part of the team is Dr. June Pagaduan-Lopez also from the Dept. of Psychiatry. She is the coordinator for training. She is also the director of the Center for Gender and Women Studies and Ms. Belinda Jubilo-Santos of the Medical Social Services (MSS) serves as the director for networking and advocacy.  

        Since the start of the operations of the UP-PGH Women’s Desk in 1998, it has already served a total of 2,798 female survivors of violence.

         The UP-PGH Women’s Desk can be located at the emergency room complex, beside the Child Protection Unit. One social worker and one research assistant staff it. Also, students fro the UP College of Law regularly make rounds to give free legal advice every Monday and Friday for patients who would need it.