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There are more women participating in good governance efforts as seen in their involvement in community work, gender awareness programs and in the legislature, Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said.
?There is an improvement in the involvement of women in good governance; in gender awareness and consciousness campaigns,? Ilagan said in an interview.
March is Women?s Month.
At a time when the country is facing a political crisis, a number of women are seen joining street protests.
Ilagan said the government should be able to provide information on alleged anomalous transactions and should not participate in ?hiding the truth.?
On the statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines asking for communal action, she asked, ?What do they mean by that? Praying together? Going out to the streets together so there can be change??
?We are disappointed with their statement. They managed to confuse everyone on what they meant by communal action. Now, everybody interprets it on their own way,? said Ilagan.
With women?s involvement in political and other matters, however, include challenges that have to be faced.
?There are threats and challenges. For example, women in communities are harassed by soldiers. Some are even killed because they are very vocal against the government,? she added.
Ilagan said many urban-poor women have houses that were demolished or displaced by the north rail and south rail projects.
?And these are projects that are involved in scandalous transactions,? Ilagan said.
She also added that there are still women who are illegally fired from their jobs.
?Even if the economy is improving, this has not trickled down to the masses,? Ilagan said.
?The exchange rate has gotten smaller so the remittances of overseas Filipino workers are shrinking. The profits of investors have gone down,? she said.
Ilagan related that there are still women who are not given enough social services such as medical and housing projects.
Resolutions and bills have been filed to address the needs of women.
?We have resolutions for separate jails for men and women and to address the issue of comfort women,? Ilagan said.
?The divorce bill has been proposed but we have a difficult time with this because the Catholic Church is blocking the move.? /Editorial Assistant Ma. Bernadette A. Parco
