DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, March 15 (PIA) -- Advocates of women’s welfare in the province urged political aspirants to implement programs that would empower women economically and also approve policies that localize R.A. 11313.

Provincial Commission on Women (PCW) Deputy Chair Phoebe Tan appealed to candidates vying for elective positions in government to roll out programs that would uplift financial conditions of women as there are still many women who are “in distress who have difficulty trying to make ends meet.”

Tan said that many people, including women, lost their jobs due to the pandemic and there is a need to focus the efforts in providing livelihood opportunities to women as this is an important agenda of women’s welfare.

“Going back to theme na 'We make change work for women', it is here that we need to work together, to coordinate, collaborate with each other in order to strengthen and empower women,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person Josefina Columna hopes the current and future members of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan would approve an ordinance localizing the Safe Spaces Act, which aims to prevent any form of Gender-Based Sexual Harassment (GBSH) in public spaces.

“Adunay giduso ang PCW didto sa Sangguniang Panglalawigan nga draft ordinance na local version sa R.A. 11313. Ato gihangyo ang atong mga magbabalaod karon ug ang mga mapili sa sunod na i-fast track ang pag-approve sa maong balaod kay dako kaayo kining epekto sa behavior sa atong mga kaigsoonan sa public places (The PCW is pushing for the approval of the draft ordinance localizing R.A. 11313 in the Sangguniang Panglalawigan. I hope our current legislators or perhaps, the next officials will fast track its approval since this would affect how people behave in public places),” Columna said.

She said this is a top concern for women to ensure their safety and protection.

R.A. 11313 prohibits any form of cat-calling, wolf whistling, and other acts that may be considered a form of sexual harassment in public places such as malls, schools, and transport vehicles.

Columna hopes this draft will be approved so that PCW, together with the Provincial GAD Resource and Coordinating Center, can intensify its advocacy and campaign on this law throughout the province.

With March declared as National Women’s Month, Tan said women deserve to be given a chance to participate in decision-making process in their locality, especially since this year’s celebration focuses on the inclusion of women’s agenda in governance as reflected in the sub-theme of the observance which is “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran.” (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)