Let women lead economic development, says Legarda

Former three-term Senator Loren Legarda (File Photo)

Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda on Tuesday called for the continued improvement of women empowerment policies to allow women’s active participation in the economic development of the country.

“As the leading nation in Southeast Asia in closing the gender gap, we should be continuously challenged to further strengthen our women empowerment policies and initiatives,” said the House Deputy Speaker in a statement.

“Let us be a country that not only protects women’s rights but also provides easy access to economic opportunities for all Filipino women.”

The former three-term Senator authored and sponsored landmark laws for women, such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Magna Carta of Women, the Anti-Child Labor Law, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

But she stressed that having these laws is not enough in strengthening the role of Filipino women as active agents of change.

“It is not enough that we only have the laws. More importantly, we properly enforce these regulations, and there is enough funding to promote them, for example, livelihood programs that will benefit our women,” Legarda said.

“It is time for us to provide more opportunities for women in education, the workplace, entrepreneurship, rural development, governance, and leadership roles.”

Legarda also emphasized that women play an essential role in seeking economic development.

She cited that the government should invest in women’s potential, skills, and talents by providing them better access and control over resources, income alternatives, training, and opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurship to achieve economic empowerment.

In her years in public service, Legarda has authored and funded laws to assist the needs of Filipino women towards financial independence.

Among these laws are the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act, and national programs such as the DTI Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), as well as DOST Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST), DOLE Pangkabuhayan.

“I have had dialogues with various women organizations and sectoral groups to understand their concerns and find ways to provide better support and assistance,” she said.

“Through these dialogues, their persistence and resourcefulness gave me hope that by bringing government programs on livelihood and capability building closer to them, we will be able to provide our women the avenue to maximize their full potential.”

The Antique Lone District Representative also collaborated with UN Women WeEmpower Asia Philippines in 2021.

Legarda has extended livelihood assistance under the DOLE Pangkabuhayan program to women-led organizations such as the Alyansa ng Nakatatanda sa Komunidad (ANAK) based in Quezon City for their community food bank and the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) based in Manila that received loom weaving and sewing machines to provide alternative livelihood to migrant women returnees, trafficked victims and survivors.

“I believe in the Filipino women’s capability to lead the country’s economic development given adequate investment and support,” said Legarda.

“As I have always done before, I will continue to champion inclusivity in our nation-building and promote employment and economic upliftment among women. What we should be doing now is harnessing the skills of Filipino women because they have the ability to lead communities towards resilience and sustainable growth.”

RELATED STORY

Legarda woos Pangasinan, vows to boost employment opportunities in the province