PCW pushes ‘Agenda ni Juana’

Thousands of women and men gathered together in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park on Wednesday morning to vote — not for political candidates — but for issues on women’s welfare and rights that should be included in the agenda of the candidates and the next set of officials after the May 9, 2016 local and national elections.
The event is one of the main highlights of the 2016 National Women’s Month Celebration in the country with the theme, “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!”
The casting of votes was led by Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Remedios I. Rikken after she opened the “I Am Counted” Photo Station wherein the participating men and women voted for the top five priority agenda on women that they want to be addressed within the next six years.
In the ballot, with a size of long bond paper, the participants shaded the portions that they believe should be included in the priorities of the next administration for a more meaningful and focused implementation of programs and policies for the welfare and rights of women in the society.
Among the categories to choose from in the list were economic empowerment, social development, security, justice and peace, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and gender responsive governance.
“Suportahan natin ang bawat hakbang na ginagawa ng bawat isa sa lipunan na may pantay na oportunidad sa bawat mamamayan. Mas malakas kung sama-sama nating isusulong ang agenda ni Juana,” Rikken said while casting her vote.
As they shaded their ballots, the participants expressed support to the call for making the country’s policies and programs responsive to the issues affecting and surrounding women’s participation and role in the society.
Rikken said they came out with the idea of the voting system so that there will be a clear voice on what are the main issues that the next administration must be bringing into focus as the next set of leaders begin their governance on June 30.
She added she was happy with the majority of attendees comprising of men and women from different government agencies.
“It is about time na masabi namin sa mga politician na ito ang gusto ng mga kababaihan at hindi palagi na lang itinatanong sa kanila kung ano ang gagawin sa amin. This time ay babaliktarin namin,” she said.
Rikken also said that those who were not able to cast their votes may still do so until March 31, 2016 by accessing PCW’s website — www.pcw.gov.ph.
Interested organizations or individuals who failed to attend the public event can also join the crowdsourcing of women’s agenda via the PCW website which will serve as online voting facility.
“We will then summarize the issues and present them to the candidates and those who would be elected officials of the next administration,” the PCW head said.
She further said she agreed with broadcast journalist, economist and University of the Philippines Prof. Solita “Winnie” Collas-Monsod who emphasized in her keynote message that men should not belittle the household works that women are doing because very clearly, behind every step of a man, whenever he goes with ease to his place of work, comprises a lot of household chores that a woman has done in all aspects.
“At dapat ang trabahong bahay ay pagtulungan, gaya ng pagpapalaki ng anak ay dapat pagtulungan — di lang babae ang involved diyan,” she said.
The theme of the Women’s Month celebration resonates the call for gender balance in leadership and decision-making positions both in the public and private sectors.
It also calls for inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and the government’s development agenda.
The observance is also a way of capacitating and preparing women and girls to inspire them to reach for their ambitions
The National Women’s Month observance began in 1988 through Presidential Proclamation No. 227. (PNA)