Effects of Bantay Banay Program on women\u27s health and empowerment: A case of the Mandaue City Bantay Banay Program

This exploratory and descriptive study identifies the effects of the Mandaue City Bantay Banay program on women\u27s health and empowerment. Bantay Banay program is a community-based strategy to combat domestic violence. Using document review and key informant interview, the study examined the organizational profile of the Bantay Banay in terms of goals, objectives, structure, management, funding, activities, services, benefits and external linkages. Thirty women members were interviewed to determine their profile, motivations in joining the program, activities/services, perceived advantages and disadvantages as well as problems encountered and its solutions. The contribution of the Bantay Banay program to women members health and empowerment was also expected. The results showed that Bantay Banay program is a community-based effort to protect women from abusive partner, that was first established in Cebu City, Central Visayas, Philippines in 1991. Because of the success of the program, it was replicated in other provinces of the Visayas region (Bohol, Negros Oriental and Leyte) and Mindanao (Lanao del Norte) and other cities and municipalities of Cebu Province (Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Mambaling, Guadalupe, A. Lopez, Sambag II, Calamba, Labangon, Basak, B, Aranas and Mabolo). The Mandaue City Bantay Banay program is a one year project, funded by the Countryside Development Fund of the Congresswoman of the 6th District of Cebu. The selected women members interviewed were middle adult, who married young, mostly Catholic and reached tertiary level of education. The women members were motivated to join the program because they wanted to help women victims of violence. The women\u27s perception regarding the advantages and benefits obtained indicated that they became knowledgeable on the concepts of legal rights. Most women perceived that their membership to the Bantay Banay enhanced their ability to make decision ability to network with other people and increased self-esteem. These indicated that there is an improvement in the level of empowerment of the women. Data also indicated that there was a decrease in the episodes of domestic violence. The women members were able to identify issues and problems. They were: a) The possibility that the change behavior the women will not be sustained because the program is only one year b) Some women claimed that they did not get any health benefits from the program c) Problems on the sustainability of the program in terms of members participation, funding, core group/organization, and program management