Inday Loren Leads Women’s Month Celebration in Antique

Senator “Inday Loren” Legarda on Wednesday will lead the Women’s Month Celebration Culminating Program in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

Legarda, a champion of women and children’s rights and a staunch advocate of women empowerment, has been crafting laws designed to advance the role of women in society since her first term in 1998.

To protect the rights and promote the welfare of women, the three-term senator authored and co-authored laws such as the Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Child Labor Law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its expanded version, the Domestic Workers Act, and the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

“The Philippines has always been among the top 10 countries successful in empowering women and addressing issues on gender gap. However, our work does not end at that. We will continue to monitor the strict implementation of our laws on women, lead the global effort to close the gender gap, and address the challenges that our women face every day,” said Legarda.

In relation to her pro-women laws, Legarda initiated the establishment of a crisis center for women in Antique in 2010. Known as the “Pagsapupo Center”, the facility provides shelter and care for abandoned children, victims of domestic violence and rape, children of drug addicts, and other abused women and children. As the center continues to live up to its mission, Legarda committed to provide funding for its expansion and other supplies and facilities needed.

Meanwhile, as author of the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and the Barangay Kabuhayan and Skills Training Act, Legarda urges the concerned implementing government agencies to ensure that their programs reach women in rural areas and small communities.

She said that women, especially housewives, explore opportunities for additional income for their families. “We need to provide viable income alternatives to women and we have laws to support women micro entrepreneurs. The MSME Act and Barangay Kabuhayan Act can help us in our goal to empower women to participate in economic activities.”

She added that we must also promote traditional industries such as weaving and crafts-making, which are mostly done by rural and indigenous women. These industries can further flourish through the support from DTI’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program and the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Legarda also urged Antiqueñas to avail of the various services available in the municipal and provincial government such as medical assistance in government hospitals, and the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which provides medical assistance, transportation assistance, and burial assistance, among others.

She added that programs such as the DOLE Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program and the Kabuhayan Program provide Antiqueño women with equal opportunity in the workplace; while the skills training programs under TESDA, the access to free education in SUCs, and the educational assistance under the CHED Tulong Dunong Program give equal access in education.

“Our women have been fighting for their rights for centuries, and while they may be able to do more things now and have access to better opportunities, much more can be done to fully and truly empower them,” Legarda concluded.