Women take charge of House

MANILA, Philippines - In this house, women rule.

In celebration of International Women’s Month, female lawmakers took leadership positions in yesterday’s session at the House of Representatives.

“They may belong to different political parties, but when it comes to their causes, women lawmakers are united,” said Pangasinan Rep. Georgina de Venecia, who acted as Speaker in the plenary session.

Seventy-nine women are House members in the 16th Congress.

Reps. Linabelle Villarica of Bulacan, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas of Pangasinan, and Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu were designated deputy speakers.

Other participants in the session were Manila Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo as the Majority Leader with Reps. Susan Yap, Josephine Sato and Marie Anne Pernes as Deputy Majority Floor Leaders.

Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez was the Minority Floor Leader while Rep. Aleta Suarez acted as the Deputy Minority Floor Leader.

The plenary session was a platform for women issues ranging from women’s rights to cyber crimes. 

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan delivered a privilege speech on “Protecting Our Women, Unmasking the Policies Discordant with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act,” while Rep. Belma Cabilao, talked about “Annulment.”

Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres spoke on “Pregnancy” and Rep. Aileen Radaza discussed “Cyberpornography and Cyberprostitution.”

Other speakers who took the floor were Rep. Maria Leonor Robredo on “Judicious Spending of the Gender and Development Fund of Local Governments;” Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, “Women and Peace in Mindanao;” Rep. Mirasol Aragones, “Women: Breaking Stereotypes;” and Rep. Evelina Escudero, “Human Trafficking.”

The all-women session was jointly sponsored by the Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc.(AWLFI) headed by de Venecia and the Committee on Women and Gender Equality chaired by Villarica.

De Venecia, on her second term as AWLFI president, said at 79, the number of women legislators in the 16th Congress is the “biggest in history.”

 â€œYet, we’re just a quarter of the total House membership. To strengthen our influence, we decided to unite, because in a world where there are many voices, it is important that the women’s voice is heard,” De Venecia said.

During the 15th Congress, among the laws supported by the women’s bloc in Congress were the Republic Act 10398 or An Act Declaring November Twenty-Five Of Every Year as “National Consciousness Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women;” RA 10152, An Act Providing For Mandatory Basic Immunization Services For Infants And Children; and RA 10364, An Act Expanding Republic Act No. 9208 titled An Act To Institute Policies To Eliminate Trafficking In Persons Especially Women And Children and Establishing The Necessary Institutional Mechanisms For The Protection And Support Of Trafficked Persons.

At present, 23 house bills have been filed at the Committee on Women and Gender Equality. Among them are  HB 02572, An Act Making Hate Crimes Against Members Of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (LGBT) Community An Aggravating Circumstance For Crimes Against Persons And Chastity by Rep. Aragones,  and HB 02853, An Act Establishing Resource Development And Crisis Assistance Centers For Women and Children In Every Province And City Of  The Country by Rep. Abigail Ferriol of Kalinga party List.