Women’s political representation in PH still inadequate, says forum speakers

MANILA, Philippines — Despite Philippines’ good standing in terms of gender equality, a deficit in women’s political representation in the country remains observable.

According to Country Program Coordinator of United Nations (UN) Women Rosalyn Mesina on Tuesday, Philippines is always high performing and on the top of the list when it comes to World Economic Forum Gender Equality Index.

In its 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, the country was also recognized as the most gender-equal in Asia.

However, Mesina said, having a 50:50 ratio of men and women in Philippine government positions is still a dream.

“Dream ‘yon, pero at the moment, ang vision is for us to see more women in both the House and the Senate, and maybe executive roles,” she said during ‘Democracy and Women’s Leadership’ forum.

(It is a dream, but at the moment, the vision is for us to see more women in both House and Senate, and maybe executive roles.)

She noted only 21% to 24% of officials in Congress and in Executive branch are women.

The rates may still be lower when it comes to local government, she noted.

Mesina praised the kind of leadership women, in general, offer as among the reasons why they are ideal for government posts.

“Not just the numbers, but also the quality of these leaders, and also, again, the environment that would support these women leaders to be able to do their work and to be able to make the changes that they need for women and girls, and the whole society in general,” she said.

Speakers at the forum were Albay 1st District Congressman Edcel Lagman Sr., Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) Secretary General Joanna Bernice Coronacion, Froilyn Mendoza of Bangsamoro Parliament, and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The forum was hosted by news and public affairs anchor Karen Davila.

Davila noted Philippines’ standing in women’s leadership compared to its neighboring countries is contradictory.

“The battle in the Philippines is really cultural, and the mindsets that are with us for many, many years,” she said.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said due to cultural struggles, as well as economic hardships, there are still so many hindrances to women’s participation.

These huge problems explain women’s absence in politics and government, the lawmaker said.

“We still have a long way to go, also in terms of equal pay for equal work, in increasing the leadership of women in the private sector, as well in civil society. We continue to struggle for that,” she said.

The beliefs in biases as factors why there is deficit in women’s representation in government were seconded by Lagman.

According to him, government data say 49% of Filipino women would like to be leaders.

However, structural and cultural biases prevent them from doing so.

Aside from these obstacles, absence and lack of networking for women add to their difficulties, Lagman noticed.

He added although there are political dynasties represented by women, the existence of dynasties may still be a barrier for qualified women from running for electoral posts.

When the case of former Senator Leila de Lima was opened, Hontiveros said she believed it would have been different if the former senator was not a woman.

Women who were politically attacked were then enumarated.

Hontiveros said among the victims of vicious accusations, de Lima was the most targeted.

For Bangsamoro Parliament member Froilyn Mendoza, it is challenging to be one of the few women in her parliament.

She cited a real instance wherein a young Moro woman was pushing to divide municipalities in Sultan Kudarat.

She was opposed by her detractors and they posted in the streets her pictures with supposedly demonic features.

Mendoza compared it to a male politician who was campaigning for the same objective.

The man did not suffer from any kind of criticism.

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