Empower women in households and communities

Let me take a break from our regular housing and real estate theme, and dedicate this space to greeting and honoring all the women of the world, especially all the “Juanas”, in celebration of National Women’s Month.

These are the women who lead and support us, not just as members of the DHSUD family or the government workforce, but as wives, grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, mentors and friends, women who give us strength, inspiration. and direction. serving as our anchors, guide, partners and the wind under our wings.

This annual celebration, spearheaded by the Philippine Commission of Women (PCW), serves as a tribute, a platform and a call to action that highlights the extraordinary roles of ordinary women in society as pioneers and forerunners of change. It is a place to discuss and address the issues that women continue to face so that empowerment can be fully achieved. At the same time, this campaign is also a call to take concrete, sustainable and inclusive steps towards gender equality.

Anchored on the multi-year theme, We Make Change Work for Women, this year’s celebration focuses on the role of women in our collective battle against the COVID-19 pandemic with the theme, “Juana Laban sa Pandemya , Kaya! “

This speaks volumes about the significant and valuable contribution of women in uniting our nation toward a comprehensive recovery from this unprecedented health crisis. In fact, this is in line with state policy, enshrined in the Constitution, which establishes the role of women in nation-building.

The month of women in retrospect

Our celebration of Women’s Month actually began 33 years ago when the late President Corazón Aquino issued Proclamation 224, declaring the first week of March of each year as Women’s Week, and March 28, 1988, and every year. thereafter, as Women’s Rights and International Peace. Day. In 1990, Republic Law No. 6949 declared March 8 of each year as a special labor holiday known as National Women’s Day. The Philippines then became the first country in the world to legislate a National Women’s Day.

Thirty-three years later, we are pleased to note that the Philippines is among the top countries in Asia in terms of closing the gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020. The 2020 Global Gender Gap Report measured countries in their progress towards gender parity in four dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

We have closed 80 percent of the gender gap in Economic Participation and Opportunity, with women outnumbering men in senior and leadership roles, and in professional and technical professions. We are one of only four countries to achieve this feat. At DHSUD, there are also more women than men on staff.

The country also ranks fifth in the indicator that assesses gender pay equality. We are ranked 16th out of 153 countries with the narrowest gap between men and women. In particular, we remain the only Asian country to reach the Top 20. Our goal is to further close the gender gap and make this a reality for all Filipinos, particularly those in marginalized sectors.

Women in communities amid the pandemic

This year’s theme is timely and relevant. It highlights the participation of women in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzes the gender problems aggravated by the health crisis. In keeping with this theme, we believe it is time to delve deeper into the gender issues that emerged during the health crisis: they feature women who thrived despite dire circumstances and share support systems and government programs that address women’s issues and concerns. women.

For DHSUD, we will work to empower our homeowners associations in establishing mechanisms to address domestic issues related to women and children. We must build sustainable homes and communities that enable women to perform their roles in their homes and in their social environment. Empowerment must start from the core of their shelters, where they hone their personality to improve on their chosen path and extend this to the other members of their families to become better citizens of our country.

We at DHSUD will ensure that our programs and activities contribute to PCW’s goals of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. Therefore, this year’s celebration is a statement of DHSUD’s GAD policy to promote and implement housing and urban development policies that will defend, protect and empower women and incorporate gender equality and development.

Like any other social problem, the pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women can only be achieved and will only be successful when all sectors work together. It is not a battle of the sexes, but a collective struggle for a more peaceful and humane environment that respects and celebrates differences and enables everyone, regardless of gender, to reach their full potential. Therefore, it is our shared responsibility to contribute to this agenda and help build a society that especially encourages, supports and empowers women.

Let’s keep pushing until we break gender stereotypes, end discrimination and violence against women, and achieve gender equality. Let us not stop fighting until we live in a just, equitable, inclusive and conducive world for sustainable development.

A toast to all the Juanas at home and in the community!

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