Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate committee on women and family relations, on Sunday urged voters to support candidates with a “clear pro-women agenda,” on the global observance of March as International Women’s Month.
“Being pro-women means the candidate must consistently advocate for the rights and welfare of women on his or her platform of government… and must commit that all laws and ordinances that would be enacted under his or her watch would be gender sensitive. The candidate must also be willing to integrate the concept of gender budgeting in the allocation of government funds,” she said.
Cayetano is one of only three women senators in the outgoing 15th Congress. She said it was important that voters included the issue of women’s interests when evaluating national and local candidates.
“Congress has already passed several landmark legislations for women such as the Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, Expanded Breastfeeding Act and, recently, the reproductive health law,” she said.
“But much work remains to be done to address the specific concerns of women and sustain the reforms we have started,” she said.
For example, the senator said, several local government units across the country had enacted ordinances and programs to complement these national laws, such as a local Gender and Development Code.
“But there are still many LGUs that have not done so… We need more women and men public servants with a progressive attitude on issues like gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment,” she said.—Cathy C. Yamsuan