Loren pushes gender equality, backs senate bid of 5 women

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEN. LOREN LEGARDA TODAY VOWED TO WORK FURTHER FOR THE EMPOWERMENT AND PROTECTION OF FILIPINO WOMEN, EVEN AS SHE RALLIED SUPPORT FOR THE RESPECTIVE BIDS OF RE-ELECTIONIST SENS. MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO AND PIA CAYETANO, AND NEW SENATORIAL ASPIRANTS GABRIELA PARTY LIST REP. LIZA MAZA, NEWCOMERS GWEN PIMENTEL AND SUSAN OPLE..
A co-author of the landmark Magna Carta for Women (Republic Act 9710) and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9260), Loren said that her tandem with presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar will work to ensure gender equality at home, workplace and in all other sectors of Philippine society.
“The track records of Senators Santiago and Cayetano, and Rep. Maza not only on the concerns of women, speak for themselves. On the other hand, we need new faces and insights at the Senate that may be provided by Ms. Pimentel and Ms. Ople,” said Loren.
A member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Loren has been adopted as candidate by Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP). Senators Santiago and Cayetano, and Rep. Liza Maza, as well as Pimentel and Ople, are part of NP’s senatorial slate.
“There are much more to be done to fight all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence. This issue should be a priority of the next administration, along with easing poverty and addressing the threats of climate change,” said Loren.
Loren pointed out that the “barbaric” Maguindanao Massacre even pointed to much needed societal changes on how women are treated, as they are often times seen as mere objects.
“The reported rape of the women victims before they were killed makes us shudder because, if true, it completed the objectification of women, who were disposed of after being abused,” she said.
“Crimes like these have no place in civilized society, ditto with the many abuses being committed against women that are not being reported because of the social stigma they carry,” said Loren.
Loren warned that while the Magna Carta for Women already exists, there is the danger of its provisions not being enforced like what’s happening with RA 6725, which was passed in 1989 to recognize women’s role in national development; and RA 7192, which prohibits discrimination against women in the workplace.
“Sadly, RAs 6725 and 7192 are largely being ignored, something which we should not allow to happen to the Magna Carta,” said Loren.
Senate Bill 7192 authored by Loren incorporated into the Magna Carta the provision of comprehensive health services for women, the upholding of the rights of women in marginalized sectors, ensuring women’s access to livelihood, credit, capital and technology, and the strengthening of the role of the National Commission on apital and technology, and the strengthening of the role of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women which had been renamed the Philippine Women’s Commission.
Aside from co-authoring the Magna Carta, Loren also played a major role in the passage of RA 9260, the law being used now by emotionally and psychologically battered women to free themselves from abusive relationships through the seeking of protection orders from courts.