FORMER President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has lauded the gains achieved by the Philippines in advancing the rights of women.
Cited as one of the most influential women leaders in the country, Arroyo, during a recent CNN Philippines interview in celebration of Women’s Month, said the country has achieved much in terms of gender equality and has, since her time, been the only Asian country to rank in the top 10 in the world in terms of gender parity.
Mrs. Arroyo helped the country close the gender gap in education and health during her presidency as the Philippines ranked sixth in the world, and the only Asian country to achieve gender parity during her time. Today, the Philippines ranks 10th.
The former President said when she started her political career as a senator in 1992, one of her advocacies was women’s rights.
“When I was a senator, my women’s agenda was twofold–protection and promotion. Protection of women against abuses and promotion of opportunities,” she said.
“For protection, I tried to enact an anti-domestic violence bill that I got passed into law when I was already president.
For the promotion of opportunities, I filed a bill that gave assistance to women micro-entrepreneurs. I got that passed when I was senator,” the Pampanga solon said.
Mrs. Arroyo was also the principal author of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law when she was senator, as well as Republic Act 7882 or the Act Providing Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises, which made it easier for women to engage in business to support themselves and their families.
When she became Vice President and concurrent secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways in 1998, she saw the problem in human trafficking, especially among women and children.
As a result, she initiated the administrative bill that became the basis for the law on Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which she signed into law as President in 2003.
During her presidency, Arroyo was also able to get passed several key women’s rights legislations including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Magna Carta for Women.
This is one of the reasons why the Philippines is no longer in the watchlist in human trafficking because of the existence of the law and the strict enforcement of its provisions.
“I believe we are no longer in the watchlist and because of that law, there is a fall-out in the adoption of orphans by foreign nationals,” she said.
To remedy the situation, Mrs. Arroyo has filed a bill that makes it easier for well-meaning foreign nationals to adopt Filipino orphans in order for them to have a better life.
Explaining her interest in promoting women’s rights and their protection against abuses, Arroyo said: “I saw a lot of domestic violence going around the country and talking to constituents, even if we are far up there in ranking in terms of the role of women in society.”
Mrs. Arroyo said her nine-year presidency was gender neutral because of the high regard Philippine society has on women.
“We are progressive in the role of women in society. There’s still room for improvement, but in general the Filipina woman is fortunate that she is living in the Philippines,” she said.
