MANILA, Philippines --- Despite international and local awareness and support, laws protecting women’s rights in the country have yet to be fully implemented, partly because many of its beneficiaries are still unaware of them.
This fact prompted Team PNoy senatorial bet and Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara to call on Filipinas to know and exercise their rights as enumerated under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
Angara, principal author of the law, said success rate for landmark legislatioin may not be realized until Filipino women are made aware of these rights and are given the assurance that such will be protected by both government and the private sector.
“The myth of a weaker gender should cease to exist. It should be purged from the Filipino culture,” the senior administration legislator stressed in a statement issued in time for the celebration of the International Women’s Day yesterday.
In a separate statement, Makabayan senatorial hopeful and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino assailed the continuing impoverishment of women despite the supposed economic growth of the country.
“Women as the typical household managers in Filipino families, have to contend with inadequate salaries and increasing costs of basic utilities. Paano pagkakasyahin ang P456 minimum daily wage, samantalang ayon sa IBON databank kailangan ng P1,033/araw ang isang pamilyang may anim na miyembro?” said Casiño.
Angara and Casino are among the male members of the Lower House known for their legislative advocacies for the promotion of health care and protection of women’s rights.
Both lawmakers have served three consecutive terms as congressman.
“This day, as in previous days and years under the present administration, Filipino women continue to face the same attacks against them economically, politically and socio-culturally,” said Casiño, citing the National Statistics Coordinating Board data that women still rank fifth among the poorest sectors in the country with 11.2 million poor women in 2009.
Angara and other lawmakers pursued the enactment of the Magna Carta for women in a bid to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling, and promoting their rights.