MARAWI CITY--A total of 260 distressed overseas Bangsamoro women gathered were on the rights of migrant workers and their families as well as available government agencies that provide programs and services for the OFWs.

The activity is led by the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) through its Women’s Welfare Program and Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center, Inc, in observance of National Women’s Month.

Each participant also received 25 kilograms of rice, hygiene kits and welfare goods.

MSSD Minister Lawyer Raissa H. Jajurie narrated in her message the history of the women’s month celebration, particularly on how women in the labor sector were deprived of many things in the past like equal compensation and treatment in general.

She also made mention of how those women in the past worked together and paved the way to the rights and privileges of the women in this generation are benefiting. 

“Kahit nga bumoto, hindi tayo pinapaboto noon pero sa dahil sa pagpupursige at pagkilos ng mga kababaihang nauna sa atin, natatamasa natin itong mga karapatang ito,” she said.

[Even in voting, we were not allowed to vote then but because of the perseverance and action of the women before us, we now enjoy these rights.]

“Hindi lamang natin ginugunita ang mga kontribusyon at kagalingan nating mga kababaihan kung hindi ang buwan na ito rin po ay plataporma para po ihayag ang ating mga adbokasiya at mga hangarin na hindi pa natin na-aabot,” Minister Jajurie emphasized.

Jajurie said they not only commemorate this month the contributions and achievements of women but it is also a platform to express their advocacies and aspirations that they have not yet reached.

Aside from the rights forum, MSSD will also conduct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions to distressed OFWs, trafficked women, and women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDCs), medical missions across BARMM, provision of goods to pregnant and lactating mothers in need, and gender-sensitive case management for women and children in conflict with the law. (MSSD-BARMM)