DAVAO CITY(October 21) — Victims of abuse and other crimes could be spared the trauma of repeatedly recounting painful experiences under a proposed Green Room Program that seeks to make police interviews less intimidating and coordinate referrals among law enforcement, prosecutors and social workers.
The Davao City Justice Zone (DCJZ), led by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan, inspected seven proposed sites on Oct. 16 as it assessed police facilities for the initiative, which targets women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The program’s central feature is a structured interview process designed to limit repeated retelling of traumatic experiences, alongside referrals for medical, legal and psychosocial support. Its proposed rooms would use calming colors, comfortable seating and non-intimidating decor to make initial interviews less stressful.
The six police stations under consideration are Police Stations 1 in Sta. Ana, 5 in Sand, 6 in Bunawan, 8 in Toril, 12 in Marilog and 16 in Maa, along with the Women and Children Protection Desk Main Office.
Representatives from the Regional Trial Court, prosecution offices, Public Attorney’s Office, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Davao City Police Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office and City Engineering Office joined the inspection.
The program’s five-step protocol covers welcoming intake, structured interviews, interagency case coordination, access to support services and continuity of referrals and records. These measures are intended to reduce re-traumatization and help victims navigate the justice system without repeatedly explaining their experiences to different service providers.
The DCPO welcomed the selection of the facilities and expressed hope that the initiative could become a model for trauma-informed policing elsewhere.
The site inspection is only the first step. The DCJZ and participating agencies must still establish when the seven Green Rooms will become operational, identify who will fund and staff them, and ensure personnel follow trauma-informed interview and confidentiality protocols. They must also track whether victims receive timely medical, legal and psychosocial support and are spared unnecessary repeat interviews. Without clear implementation targets and monitoring, the Green Room Program risks remaining a promising design rather than a demonstrable improvement in how Davao handles abuse cases.
