Spark Philippines, a SEC-registered NGO composed of empowered women and women champions; in cooperation with KaSaMa (Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan) recently organized PINAY VOTE: Talakayan para sa Kababaihan which was aired last Saturday, April 30 in Aksyon TV and Radyo 5. It will have a replay in Radyo 5 (92.3 News FM) on May 7, Saturday, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
The forum’s goal is to create an environment for the Political and Economic Empowerment of Women and to serve as an avenue for the voting public to hear the legislative agenda of senatorial aspirants that would to guide them in making informed choices come election day.
Tackling about three major issues of women about health, youth and education, and security; the forum brought together eight candidates who were challenged to come up with solutions to lingering problems in an apparent patriarchal society that have since been felt by women from all walks of life.
Present in the forum were civil leader and businessman Shariff Ibrahim Albani, former Manila councilor Grego Belgica and Atty. Larry Gadon, a member of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s legal team.
Valenzuela representative Win Gatchalian, former Akbayan partylist representative Risa Hontiveros, celebrity lawyer and women’s rights advocate Lorna Kapunan, OFW advocate Susan Ople, and Pasig representative Roman Romulo completed the line-up.
Supporters, students and COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon were also in the event.
Aside from the case studies presented in the audio-visual presentations, forum reactors from different sectors were also present in the forum to further test the senatorial candidates’ stand against the present-day struggles of women.
They are Joey De la Cruz, an advocate of sexual reproductive health and rights and anti-trafficking campaigns; Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco, SPARK! Philippines Executive Director; Dr. Soccoro Reyes, Senior Governance Adviser of the Center for Legislative Development and Ms. Niña Terol, a corporate communications expert from the McCann World Group Philippines. Award-winning Journalist Claire Delfin served as forum moderator.
Senatorial candidates reacted on certain issues. On health, despite the existence of R.A. 10354 or Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 that aims to provide high quality health care, the number of dying mothers due to childbirth has been consistent.
“Health issues can be avoided if people have money. But because of excessive taxes that turns into pork, we have free hospitals na libre nga pero bulok naman,” said Belgica.
Meanwhile, Albani stressed the negative implication of teaching sex education to the youth.
“Kung ituturo natin ‘yan, hindi magtatagal pati student natin magiging rapist na dito sa bansa natin. So pinagbabawal yan sa batas ng Diyos, sa batas ng Qur’an as a Muslim at sa batas ng Holy Bible na ituro yan sa kanila. Sa tamang edad pwede na yan ituro sa kanila.”
Atty. Gadon on the other hand gave suggestions on how sex-education should be implemented.
“Dapat lang magbuo ng commission composed of psychologist, psychiatrist at saka mga educators na magbuo kung ano ang ituturo. Ang purpose naman nun ay not really to teach the graphic aspect of sexuality but how to prevent disease, unwanted pregnancies”
Violence against women also became a hot topic. While enforcement of R.A. 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 has been in the past years observed, one out of five Filipinas still remain victims of Domestic Violence, Prostitution, Rape and Sexual Harrassment.
For Congressman Romulo, education and an oversight committee is the key to address this issue.
“Karamihan naman ng mga lalaki nirerespeto ang mga babae, ang problema yung small minority na yan (na hindi rumerespeto) yan pa po ang maingay. Kailangan po talaga ma-educate sila. Sa oversight po, siguraduhin na ma-implement ng executive department yung hindi nila naiimplement na mga batas para maprotektahan ang mga kababaihan.”
Women’s contribution to the economy has also been acknowledged. For Hontiveros, compensation and special privileges for women are needed to be reinforced, including provision of pension for housewives and the so-called “house husbands.”
“Tignan po natin ang mga batas sa maternal at paternal leave. At pahalagahan natin yung reproductive work na ginagawa ng mga babae, kahit yung lifetime home-based home-makers at pati yung dumadaming bilang ng mga lalaki nag-aalaga na rin ng bata at lipunan. Ikwenta natin sa Gross Domestic Product, pagdating sa legal retirement age, yung mga kabaro namin na habambuhay homemaker, dapat may pensyon din sila, Dahil sila rin ay naglikha ng yaman ng bayan.”
The senatorial hopefuls also discussed gaps in legislation when it comes to women and the laws they plan to create or amend.
“I think ang una natin dapat tignan ay the divorce law. Marami sa ating mga kababaihan ay nagtitiis na lang sa pambubugbog ng asawa at infidelity ng lalaki. Number 2, yung ating anti-discrimination bill which will protect the rights of LGBTS, of single parents, of Senior Citizens who should not be forced to resign mandatorily at the age of 60 if they are still productive,” said Atty. Kapunan.
Cong. Gatchalian centered his plans in strengthening local government in porgrams that would help three marginalized sectors.
“Gusto ko lang bigyan diin yung 3 marginalized sector na kadalasan ay mga babe ang sumasalo. Solo-Parent, PWD and Special Education or Children with Special needs. We have to get the local government involved dahil direkta po ang lokal na pamahalaan na kumakausap at inaalagaan ang kapakanan ng marginalized sector.”
Ople on the other hand focused on drafting laws that would help OFWs and address discrimination in the workplace.
“I’d like to review the Overseas Employment Program and the Labor Code. And I’d like to see how we can boost and improve the productivity and employment of women, (make) amendments to the Sexual Harrasment Law (dahil) andaming mga diplomats who are also guilty of sexual harrasments especially of our domestic workers. Andyan yung sex for flight. And also a law about age discrimination in the workplace.
Abilidad hindi edad. Yun dapat ang pamantayan.”
Watch the entire forum on the next page
