The province’s first Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) was opened at the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital (PRMMH) in the capitol town of Iba, Zambales, on 25 November 2025.

The WCPU aims to provide protection and care to the women and children of Zambales, and was established through the efforts of Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and Board Member Maria Cecilia F. Rafanan, who heads the Committee on Women, Family and Gender Development.

The Provincial Government partnered with PRMMH, led by Chief of Hospital II Dra. Eileen Rose Garrido and WCPU Head Dra. Joanne Callo-Fermantez.

Also instrumental in the creation of the WCPU were the Provincial Health Office, DepEd Zambales, PAO, social workers from the 13 towns, and the municipal police stations of Zambales.

The WCPU is a specialized team within a hospital or government agency that provides comprehensive medical, psychological, and social support to victims of violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Staffed by doctors, social workers, and mental health experts, these units offer immediate and compassionate care, including medical examinations, counseling, and coordination with other agencies to ensure the safety and recovery of women and children.

The WCPU provides medical and forensic services, psychosocial support, case management, inter-agency coordination, information and referral, and a child-friendly environment.

Ebdane said that the Provincial Government of Zambales will continue to deliver programs that provide protection, support, and hope to every Zambaleño, especially those in need of care such as women and children.