Legarda underscores women’s leadership in climate resilience, education reform, and inclusive governance as Women’s Month 2026 opens

Senator Loren Legarda opened the celebration of National Women’s Month 2026 by honoring the indispensable role of women in building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Philippines. She underscored that empowering women is a prerequisite for social transformation and effective governance.

Reflecting on this year’s national theme, “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,” Legarda urged that gender equality be integrated into the daily functions of government, schools, and communities, calling it a collective responsibility, not just an occasion for ceremonial recognition.

“This year’s Women’s Month calls us to move beyond recognition into integration, to ensure that equality defines how our institutions, schools, and workplaces function every day,” Legarda said.

A consistent champion of women’s rights, Legarda was the first woman to top two senatorial elections in 1998 and in 2007) and has championed landmark measures that uphold social and economic equality, including the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364) and its expanded version, Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (RA 11148), and the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210).

Beyond the halls of legislation, Legarda continues to translate advocacy into programs that uplift Filipino women, especially in the grassroots. She has advocated for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that promote sustainable livelihoods. Thousands of women entrepreneurs across the country have benefited from programs she supported, from climate-resilient enterprise development in post-disaster areas to the promotion of local weaving, food processing, and eco-friendly crafts in provinces nationwide.

“When women are economically empowered, families thrive and communities become more resilient. Supporting women’s enterprises means investing in the future of sustainable development,” she noted.

Legarda has long emphasized women’s role in climate adaptation and community resilience, recognizing them as frontliners in disaster preparedness, livelihood recovery, and environmental stewardship, responsibilities that grow more vital as the country faces intensifying climate risks.

“Women are frontliners of climate action and guardians of resilience. When we invest in women’s capacity to lead, from barangay councils to national policymaking, we fortify the nation’s defense against climate and environmental risks,” Legarda stressed.

As the first woman to chair the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and now as Chair of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts and Co-Chairperson of EDCOM II, Legarda emphasized that women’s empowerment must extend to peacebuilding, education reform, and cultural continuity, areas where the contribution of women remains decisive and underrecognized.

“Our women preserve our culture, nurture our youth, and ensure harmony in communities. They are the teachers who shape values, the culture-bearers who keep our heritage alive, and the community leaders who bridge differences and nurture unity. Recognizing their leadership is not only an act of equality, but it is also an affirmation of the nation’s strength and identity,” Legarda stressed.

Legarda concluded that Women’s Month is not only a time for celebration but a call to action to ensure that gender equality becomes a permanent pillar of governance, culture, and development. She urged Filipinos to recognize women as central to inclusive leadership, peacebuilding, national resilience, and education reform.

“The strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of every Filipina. When women are protected, supported, and given equal opportunities, progress becomes stronger and inclusive,” Legarda said.(30)

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Legarda, binigyang-diin ang mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa climate resilience, reporma sa edukasyon, at inclusive governance sa pagbubukas ng Women’s Month 2026

Binuksan ni Senador Loren Legarda ang pagdiriwang ng National Women’s Month 2026 sa pagbibigay-pugay sa hindi matatawarang papel ng kababaihan sa pagtatayo ng isang matatag at inklusibong Pilipinas.

Binigyang-diin niya na ang pagpapalakas sa papel ng kababaihan ay daan para makamit ang tunay na pagbabago sa lipunan at pamamahalang mahusay.

Sa pagtalakay sa pambansang tema ngayong taon na “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,” hinimok ni Legarda ang pamahalaan, mga paaralan, at komunidad na isabuhay ang gender equality sa pang araw-araw na gawain.

Aniya ito rin ay kolektibong responsibilidad ng lahat.

“Nananawagan sa atin ang Women’s Month ngayong taon na lampasan ang simpleng pagkilala at isabuhay ang pagkakapantay-pantay, upang matiyak na ang equality ang maging batayan kung paano kumikilos araw-araw ang ating mga institusyon, paaralan, at lugar ng trabaho,” ani Legarda.

Matagal nang isinusulong ni Legarda ang karapatan ng kababaihan.

Siya ang kauna-unahang babaeng nanguna sa dalawang senatorial elections noong 1998 at 2007, at nagtulak ng mahahalagang batas para sa pagkakapantay-pantay sa lipunan at ekonomiya, kabilang ang Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364) at ang pinalawak nitong bersyon, Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (RA 11148), at ang 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210).

Hindi lamang sa paggawa ng batas umiikot ang adbokasiya ni Legarda.

Aktibo rin niyang isinusulong ang mga programang tumutulong sa kababaihan, lalo na sa grassroots level.

Itinaguyod niya ang mga micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSMEs) na pinangungunahan ng kababaihan upang mapalakas ang sustainable na kabuhayan.

Libo-libong babaeng negosyante sa buong bansa ang nakinabang sa mga programang sinuportahan niya, mula sa climate-resilient enterprise development sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng kalamidad hanggang sa pagtataguyod ng lokal na paghahabi, food processing, at eco-friendly crafts sa iba’t-ibang probinsya.

“Umuunlad ang mga pamilya at nagiging mas matatag ang mga komunidad kapag napalalakas ng kababaihan sa larangan ng ekonomiya. Ang pagsuporta sa mga negosyo ng kababaihan ay pamumuhunan sa kinabukasan ng sustainable na kaunlaran,” aniya.

Matagal na ring binibigyang-diin ni Legarda ang mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa climate adaptation at community resilience.

Kinilala niya ang mga babae bilang frontliners sa paghahanda sa sakuna, pagbangon ng kabuhayan, at pangangalaga sa kalikasan, mga responsibilidad na lalo pang nagiging mahalaga habang tumitindi ang banta ng climate risks sa bansa.

“Ang kababaihan ang mga frontliner sa climate action at tagapangalaga ng resilience. Kapag namuhunan tayo sa kakayahan ng kababaihan na mamuno, mula sa mga barangay council hanggang sa paggawa ng pambansang polisiya, pinatatatag natin ang depensa ng bansa laban sa mga panganib sa klima at kalikasan,” idiniin ni Legarda.

Bilang kauna-unahang babaeng namuno sa Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, at ngayon ay Chair ng Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts at Co-Chairperson ng EDCOM II, iginiit ni Legarda na kailangang palawakin pa ang empowerment ng kababaihan sa peacebuilding, education reform, at pagpapanatili ng kultura, mga larangang malaki ang ambag ng kababaihan ngunit madalas hindi napapansin.

“Pinangangalagaan ng ating mga kababaihan ang ating kultura, inaalagaan ang ating kabataan, at pinananatili ang pagkakaisa sa mga komunidad. Sila ang mga guro na humuhubog sa mga pagpapahalaga, ang mga tagapagdala ng kultura na nagpapanatiling buhay sa ating pamana, at ang mga lider ng komunidad na nagdurugtong ng mga pagkakaiba at nag-aalaga ng pagkakaisa. Ang pagkilala sa kanilang pamumuno ay hindi lamang usapin ng pagkakapantay-pantay, kundi pagpapatibay din sa lakas at identidad ng ating bansa,” idiniin ni Legarda.

Bilang pangwakas, sinabi ni Legarda na hindi lamang pagdiriwang ang Women’s Month kundi panawagan para sa konkretong aksyon upang gawing permanenteng haligi ng pamamahala, kultura, at kaunlaran ang gender equality.

Hinimok niya ang mga Pilipino na kilalanin ang kababaihan bilang mahalagang puwersa sa inklusibong pamumuno, peacebuilding, katatagan ng bansa, at reporma sa edukasyon.

“Nasa pagpapalakas ng bawat Filipina ang tunay na lakas ng ating bansa. Kapag ang kababaihan ay napoprotektahan, nasusuportahan, at nabibigyan ng pantay na oportunidad, mas nagiging matatag at inklusibo ang kaunlaran.” (30)