Lady senators mark Int'l Women's Day

MANILA, Philippines - Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano hailed Friday Congress' progress in pushing for the women's agenda and the protection of their well-being as the two lawmakers marked the International Women’s Day.

Legarda noted that Filipino women enjoy better protection in the country since there are adequate laws for promoting the rights and well-being of women.

Legarda said the legislators have “diligently toiled” pieces of legislation to protect women’s rights and promote their welfare.

She echoed the United Nations’ theme for this year’s celebration, which is, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.”

Legarda said the Philippine can fulfill the promise since the country had passed laws on women’s rights protection—such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Magna Carta of Women, and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Legarda noted that under the new law, recruitment in the guise of domestic or overseas employment for sexual exploitation, forced labor or involuntary debt bondage are considered human trafficking. Other acts considered as human trafficking are recruitment of any Filipino woman to marry a foreigner, engagement in sex tourism, recruitment for organ removal, and recruitment of a child to engage in armed activities abroad.

Cayetano, however, also recognized that much work needs to be done to push the women’s agenda throughout the country.

“We have a long way to go because awareness on gender issues among Filipinos must still be improved,” Cayetano said in a separate statement.

Cayetano noted that it will take some time to address tradition and practices that are anti-women. “So we must take advantage of every opportunity to educate our people on the importance of bridging the gender gap in every aspect of our lives,” she said.