Ano nga ba ang kahalagahan ng pagdiriwang ng National Women's Month?

Summary

In celebration of National Women's Month, this discussion highlights various initiatives led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). The agency focuses on promoting gender equality and creating an inclusive society, emphasizing education, labor force participation, and political involvement for women. The video touches on ongoing efforts to close gender gaps, such as encouraging women in STEM fields and supporting women entrepreneurs. It also addresses the importance of engaging men and other genders as allies in the fight for women's rights and empowerment in the Philippines.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The script discusses the celebration of National Women's Month in March, with a focus on honoring women's contributions in various fields.
• 👩‍⚖️ The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) leads efforts to improve gender equality and empower women through various initiatives and programs.
• 🟣 This year's theme for National Women's Month is 'We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,' emphasizing the collective effort required for gender parity.
• 📚 Despite high literacy rates for women, there is a lower enrollment rate for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, highlighting the need for encouragement.
• 💼 Women's labor force participation is lower than men's at 51.2%, signaling the need for more opportunities for women in the workforce.
• 🗳 Women's political participation remains low at 23.4% of elected positions, compared to men's 76.6%.
• 🏛 However, women are well-represented in civil service roles, and there are more female judges than male judges.
• 📜 The PCW is advocating for legislation to protect women's rights and enhance labor and political participation, collaborating with government agencies, the private sector, and NGOs.
• 🛍 A focus on creating safe public spaces, such as malls, is being promoted, with efforts to raise awareness about the Safe Spaces Act to ensure women's safety in public areas.
• 💡 Women entrepreneurs, particularly in MSMEs, are significant contributors to the economy, and 51% of MSMEs registered with the DTI are women-owned, employing a large number of women.

Q & A

What is the focus of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) during the National Women's Month celebration?

The focus of PCW during National Women's Month is to elevate the status of women across various fields by promoting gender equality and providing more opportunities for women in areas like education, labor force participation, and political representation.

How is this year's theme for National Women's Month different from previous themes?

This year's theme is 'We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,' which emphasizes that the month is not only for women but for everyone to work together to achieve gender equality. The theme will be used until 2028, aligning with the current administration's goals.

What are some of the challenges faced by women in the Philippines in terms of education?

Despite higher functional and basic literacy rates among women compared to men, there is a lower enrollment of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses, which are often stereotyped as male-dominated fields.

What is the current labor force participation rate for women in the Philippines?

The labor force participation rate for women in the Philippines is 51.2%, which is lower compared to men, who have a participation rate of 78.1%.

What gaps exist in women's political participation in the Philippines?

Women hold only 23.4% of elective positions in the Philippines, compared to 76.6% held by men. This indicates a significant gap in political participation for women.

What initiatives is the PCW pushing to address these gaps in gender equality?

The PCW is advocating for the Women's Priority Legislative Agenda, which includes laws to protect women's rights and increase their participation in the labor force and political arenas. They are also partnering with government agencies, the private sector, and NGOs.

How does the PCW's work benefit the economy of the Philippines?

PCW's efforts, such as promoting the Safe Spaces Act and supporting women entrepreneurs through digital platforms, contribute to a safer, more inclusive society, which can enhance consumer confidence and stimulate economic growth. Women-led MSMEs also help employ a significant percentage of the workforce, further boosting the economy.

What is the significance of 'Purple Friday' during National Women's Month?

'Purple Friday' is a way for people to show their support for women's rights and the National Women's Month activities by wearing purple, the color associated with the advocacy for gender equality.

What role can men and other genders play in advancing the cause of gender equality?

Men and other genders can support women's empowerment by actively participating in advocacy initiatives, helping with unpaid care work at home, and promoting gender equality in various social and professional spaces.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the division of unpaid care work between men and women?

During the pandemic, women were found to spend an average of 13 hours per day on unpaid care work. PCW encourages men to share household responsibilities to give women more time for personal development, education, and entrepreneurial activities.

Outlines

00:00

💁‍♀️ Women's Month and PCW Programs

This paragraph introduces the Philippine Commission on Women's (PCW) role in celebrating National Women's Month, highlighting various programs aimed at improving women's lives in the Philippines. The PCW advocates for gender equality and women's empowerment through initiatives in areas such as education, employment, and political participation. The host introduces Christine Balmes, Deputy Executive Director for Operations at PCW, to discuss the theme of this year’s celebration: 'We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society'.

05:01

📊 Gender Gaps in Education, Labor, and Politics

Christine Balmes outlines the gaps in gender equality within education, labor force participation, and political representation in the Philippines. Despite improvements, there are challenges in STEM education, where fewer women enroll compared to men, and labor force participation, where women's participation remains lower. She also highlights the underrepresentation of women in political offices, noting that while women dominate in the civil service and judiciary, their participation in elective positions is still limited.

10:02

⚖️ PCW's Legislative Efforts for Women

PCW is actively promoting legislative measures under its Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda to protect and enhance women's rights, particularly in labor and political sectors. Balmes emphasizes the agency’s partnerships with government agencies, private sectors, and non-government organizations to support women's empowerment. She highlights how men and other genders can also contribute to the advocacy by supporting initiatives aimed at women’s advancement.

🛍️ Economic Empowerment through Safe Spaces and MSMEs

The paragraph focuses on PCW’s collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to promote the Safe Spaces Act in public areas, particularly malls, ensuring protection for all visitors. Additionally, Christine discusses the impact of women entrepreneurs and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), with 51% of these businesses registered to women, contributing significantly to the economy. Events such as forums and partnerships with organizations like UN Women aim to promote women's entrepreneurship, furthering economic empowerment.

👩‍🔬 Men’s Role in Gender Equality

This section emphasizes the importance of men’s involvement in household work to alleviate the burden on women, particularly unpaid care work. A study conducted by PCW revealed that women spend an average of 13 hours a day on household tasks. Encouraging men to share these responsibilities would free up more time for women to engage in personal development, education, and small business ventures.

🎉 Closing Remarks on Women Empowerment

In conclusion, the program reiterates the significance of the initiatives spearheaded by PCW and how they contribute to the empowerment and protection of women’s rights. The host thanks Christine Balmes for her participation, wishing success for PCW’s ongoing projects. The message to all viewers, both men and women, is to continue advancing gender equality, with a final greeting for National Women's Month.

Keywords

💡Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is a government agency responsible for promoting women's rights and gender equality in the Philippines. In the video, the PCW leads initiatives to uplift women in various sectors, advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and empowerment.

💡Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to the equal treatment and opportunities for people of all genders, particularly in areas like education, employment, and politics. The video emphasizes the importance of involving everyone, not just women, in the pursuit of gender equality, as highlighted by the theme 'We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society'.

💡Inclusive Society

An inclusive society is one where all individuals, regardless of gender, background, or ability, have equal access to opportunities and are valued members of the community. The video highlights the PCW’s efforts to create an inclusive society, ensuring that women and marginalized groups have access to education, employment, and leadership roles.

💡STEM Education

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The video points out that there is still a gender gap in STEM fields, with fewer women enrolling in these courses. The PCW aims to encourage more women to pursue education and careers in STEM, breaking traditional stereotypes about male-dominated fields.

💡Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation refers to the percentage of a population that is either employed or actively looking for work. In the video, it is noted that women's labor force participation in the Philippines is significantly lower than men's, and efforts are being made to increase women’s economic involvement through various programs and legislative initiatives.

💡Political Representation

Political representation refers to the presence and involvement of women in political decision-making roles. The video addresses the low percentage of women in elected positions in the Philippines, with only 23.4% of political offices held by women, underscoring the need for increased women's political participation.

💡Safe Spaces Act

The Safe Spaces Act is a law that ensures public spaces, like malls, are safe for all genders, free from harassment or violence. In the video, the PCW promotes this act by empowering security guards and tenants in malls to implement the law, which helps women feel more secure and confident in public spaces.

💡Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are women who own or manage businesses. The video highlights the role of women in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where women make up 51% of registered businesses. Their contribution is significant in boosting the country's economy, with 62% of MSME employees being women.

💡Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda

The Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda refers to a set of laws that the PCW is advocating to protect and promote the rights of women. These laws aim to enhance labor force participation, political involvement, and protect women from discrimination and violence. The agenda is a key strategy in addressing the gaps discussed in the video.

💡Multitasking

Multitasking, as mentioned in the video, refers to women’s ability to handle multiple responsibilities, both in the home and in the workplace. The video praises women for being adept at managing various tasks, such as running businesses while also handling household duties, a skill that significantly contributes to the country's economic growth.

Highlights

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is dedicated to improving women's status in various fields, from promoting equal rights to expanding opportunities.

This year's theme for National Women's Month is 'We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,' which extends until 2028 and emphasizes the role of everyone in promoting gender equality.

Women are encouraged to enroll in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses to address the gender disparity in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

Despite higher functional and basic literacy rates among women, their enrollment in STEM courses and participation in the labor force remain significantly lower than men's.

The labor force participation rate for women is 51.2%, compared to 76.1% for men, indicating a large gap that needs to be addressed.

Political participation of women in elective positions is only 23.4%, while men hold 76.6% of such positions, highlighting another area where gender inequality persists.

Although more women serve in the civil service and the judiciary, the gap in political representation remains significant.

PCW is pushing for the Women's Priority Legislative Agenda, which includes laws aimed at protecting women and increasing their labor force and political participation.

PCW collaborates not only with government agencies but also with private sectors and NGOs to promote women's empowerment.

More than half (51%) of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are owned by women, contributing significantly to the economy.

Women-owned MSMEs employ 62% women, showing the impact of female entrepreneurship on boosting economic participation.

The Safe Spaces Act promotes safe environments, such as in malls, where women can feel protected, contributing to overall economic growth.

Activities supporting women’s empowerment, such as forums with women entrepreneurs sharing their digital platform experiences, were held in collaboration with organizations like UN Women and SM Supermalls.

Men are encouraged to support gender equality by participating in domestic tasks, which would give women more time to engage in personal development, education, and entrepreneurship.

PCW studies show that women spend an average of 13 hours a day on unpaid household work, emphasizing the need for shared responsibilities to allow women more time for other productive activities.

Transcripts

at sa patuloy na pakikiisa po natin sa

pagdiriwang ng buwan po ng mga

kababaihan ay pag-uusapan po natin ng

mga programa na inilatag po ng ating mga

ahensya partikular na ang Philippine

Commission on women of pcw pero bago

iyan panoorin muna natin

ito sa Buwan ng Marso kung Saan

ipinagdiriwang natin ang national

women's month sa gitna ng pagpupugay sa

kababaihan ang Philippine Commission on

women na isang ahensya ng ating gobyerno

ang patuloy na tumututok upang itaas ang

antas ng kababaihan sa iba't ibang

larangan sa kanilang pangunguna maraming

proyekto na ang isinagawa upang

suportahan at palakasin ang kapakanan ng

mga kababaihan sa ating bayan mula sa

pagtataguyod ng pantay na karapatan

hanggang sa pagpapalawak ng oportunidad

ang pcw ay nagsusulong ng pagbabago at

pag-unlad para sa mga modernang Filipina

kaya naman ngayong umaga alamin natin

ang M hakbang na kanilang ginagawa upang

palakasin ang boses at karapatan ng

bawat kababaihan lang sa rice and Shine

Pilipinas ang kaugnay po niyan Ay

makakasamang po muli natin live si Ma'am

Christine Balmes and deputy executive

Director for operations and Philippine

Commission and women Magandang umaga po

and Welcome back sa aming studio Maam

Good morning po Good morning Dian Good

morning Joshua at Good morning sa ating

mga manonood a Happy National women's

month sa lahat happy women's month po

ma'am christin at Pansin ko lahat tayo

taga Batangas o Oo nga tangg natin to si

Ma'am christin alr Paano po ba naiiba

ang tema po ah Ngayong taon para po sa

National women's month kumpara ng mga

past themes at Ano po ang kahalagahan po

ng temang ito well Ngayong taon ang

ating tema ay we for gender equality and

inclusive society Ah hindi lang siya

ngayong taon hanggang sa 2028 siya um

ito ay for this administration So ano ba

Iyung pagkakaiba nito Yung we kasi dito

ay women and everyone so kumbaga

sinasabi natin na hindi lang itong buwan

na' para sa kababaihan kailangan natin

na magsama-sama lahat ng buong society

para maka-cycle

48 countries at kung yung grado na

79.1 ay mataas na grado ito ibig sabihin

malapit na nating ma-achieve Iyung

gender parity Pero marami pa rin tayong

hamon halimbawa na lamang pagdating sa

education bagam Mat mataas yyung

functional literacy rate at basic

literacy rate ng ating mga kababaihan

kumpara sa kalalakihan mababa Iyung

enrollment natin pagdating sa science

and technology and Uh engineering and

Mathematics na courses So yung stem so

we do encourage na ah kasi itong stem

courses di ba halos na stereotype siya

na panglalaki lamang Oo pero

ine-encourage natin na sana mas maraming

babae yung mag-enroll dito isa pang

hamon natin ay yung ating labor force

participation mas mataas kasi ang labor

force participation ng mga kalalakihan

at

7.1% ang babae naman ay ah 51.2 per

lamang So marami pa tayong mga

kababaihan na hindi pa nakakapasok sa

Labor force sa iba't ibang dahilan um

Kaya naman gusto sana nating i-open

yyung opportunity for them regardless

yyung kanilang gender yyung kanilang ah

ability regardless ng kanilang ah mga

biases so ah sana ay ngayong taong ito

ma-high natin ito sa National women's

month celebration um meron din tayong

isa pang gusto sanang masolusyonan na

hamon ito yung ating women's political

participation medyo mababa ang

participation ng ating mga kababaihan

pagdating sa elective positions ah

23.4% lamang ng mga elective positions

ang kababaihan kump paraa sa 76.6 per na

e mga kalalakihan sa elective positions

Oo ' ba Medyo malaki talaga siya um Pero

pagdating naman sa civil service ah Mas

marami ang mga kababaihan na nasa sa

gobyerno at nagsisilbi sa ating mga

kababayan Ah meron din tayong pwedeng

ipagmalaki na mas marami ang mga judges

na kababaihan kumpara sa kalalakihan

Pero yun nga malaki pa rin yung gap sa

political participation Okay judiciary

marami tayong mga babae Okay so

Nabanggit ni Ma'am ano na marami pa ring

mga gaps in terms of Education labor

partici participation political

representation So ano po ang mga mai pa

nating gawin para po mabawasan itong gap

na ito ah ang Philippine Commission on

women ay may mga isinusulong na batas sa

na tinatawag naming women's priority

legislative agenda at kasama dito yung

pagsusulong nga ng mga batas para

maprotektahan natin ang ating mga

kababaihan at maisulong pa Iyung ah

labor force participation Iyung

political participation at iba pa ah

maliban dito ay nakikipagtulungan kami

at nakikipag partner not only with other

government agency but also with the

private sector at pati na rin ang ating

mga non-government organizations both

internationally and locally Okay so

women empowerment talaga mm totoo at

saka dapat um ki nga ay we hindi ng mga

babae kati kayong mga kay kasama namin

kayo sa laban na ito kay mga allies

namin ano at pero Iyung speaking of the

activities that you have this month um

Paano niyo sa tingin to makakatulong sa

ekonomiya from your perspective Ah yung

mga activities namin ngayong buwan na to

ah sinimulan namin ito nung March 1 na

Nagkaroon kami ng ah

pa-track holders ng ah Isang malaking

mall dito sa Metro Manila na may mga

branches sa buong Pilipinas Ah kasama

namin dito ang Department of Labor and

Employment Bakit ito mahalaga At bakit

palagay namin na ito'y makakatulong sa

pagsusulong ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa

um dito kasi pino-promote namin yung

safe spaces act kung saan ah i-empower

ang mga Ah security guards at mga tenan

kasi malalaman nila kung ano na yung

nilalaman nitong batas ano yung

ine-expect ng batas na ito sa kanila at

dahil dito magiging safe spaces ang

ating mga malls magiging ah confident

tayo na mas magpunta sa mall mamasyal

dahil alam natin na protektado tayo at

safe tayo maliban dito nitong March 8

nagkaroon din kami ng isang ah malaking

forum sa isang mall naman sa Taguig ah

partner ang un women At sasabihin ko na

ang SM supermalls ah kung saan ah

nagkaroon tayo ng ah pagtitipon ng mga

women entrepreneurs at saka mga women na

mga empowered talaga who share their

experiences on using different digital

platforms ah kung paano din nila

napo-promote yyung ah karapatan ng ating

mga kababaihan ah Alam niyo po ah 51% ng

msme na Reg sa dti ay puro kababaihan so

malaking porsyento ng mga msme at

nakakatuwa ng they are able to help 62%

ng kanilang mga na-employ ay kababaihan

so talagang women empowerment siya at

ibig sabihin Ito ay patuloy na

maitutulak natin yung ekonomiya ng ating

bansa sa pagtulong sa ating mga women

micro medium and small enterprise m

diskarte kasi mga babae ataka

multitasker EO correct correct nabangit

yung kanina ano yung kumbaga papel din

ng mga kalalakihan and even other

genders Ano po ba yung mga Maaari po

nilang gawin para makisali ito sa ating

adbokasiya para sa mga kababaihan Ay

syempre ah maging supportive kayo sa mga

activities ng ah women's month una

Friday kasi ngayon so purple Friday siya

So ang

pagwawari friday next week pwede ka

na Ay pagpapakita ng ating ah pag

suporta

na ko lamang n panahon ng pandemya

nagkaroon ng pagaral ang pcw un women at

oxfam at tiningnan namin kung ano yung

average number of hours a day na

iginugugol ng mga kababaihan sa gawaing

bahay o unpaid care work at ito ay 13

hours a day so sa 24 hours May 13 Hours

na silang gumagawa ng gawaing bahay ah

makakatulong ang mga kalalakihan dito

kung tutulong sila sa ga

itong mas maraming oras ang mga

kababaihan para sa sarili nila para

ma-enjoy naman nila at ma enrich pa nila

ang kanilang mga sarili makagawa sila ng

ibang activities like pag-aaral o pag

kakaroon ng mga small businesses o

sidelines para dahil meron na silangang

oras dahil ang mga kalalakihan sa

kanilang tahanan ay tumutulong sa kanila

sige ako maglalaba mamaya ako na

maghuhugas ng pinggan ako na rin

magluluto Pero ito Ma'am panghuli na po

mensahe po para sa ating mga manonood na

kababaihan gayon din po sa ating mga

kalalakihan ah Ngayon pong National

women's month ay atin pong ah saloobin o

ating

i-advance so muli po sa ating mga

manonood at sa inyo Happy National

women's month happy women's at Mabuhay

po kayo at ang mga colleagues po ninyo

sa pcw nakakatuwang marinig ano na yung

programa ng Philippine Commission and

women para mas magbigyan kakayahan at

ingatan pa ang karapatan ng ating mga

kababaihan Maraming salamat po ma'am

Christine B sa muling pagbisita sa aming

programa More power po sa inyo at sana'y

maging successful ang inyong mga

proyekto sa inyong ahensya