MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army has around 15,000 women among its ranks, the Army chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, said on Wednesday.
In line with International Women’s Month, Galido was asked at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing about the number of women in the Army.
“At the current strength of females in the Philippine Army, among officers, 7 to 8 percent. Among enlisted personnel, it is 10 to 15 percent. So if it is that many, if we are 100,000 in strength, around 15,000 are female,” Galido said, speaking partly in Filipino.
Galido called gender and development in the Army “mainstream,” as there are many female platoon and battalion commanders, pilots, and more.
“They are given equal opportunity,” he said.
International Women’s Month is celebrated every May, as declared by the United Nations.
The Philippines recognizes March as the National Women’s Month Celebration through Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988 by then-President Corazon Aquino.