House of Representatives celebrates Women's Month

14 March 2011 09:53:22 AM

Writer: Jazmin S. Camero, MRS-PRIB
Lady lawmakers this week led other women's organizations in the country in celeb
rating "Women's Month" under the theme "Empowering women through legislation and
the arts: envisioning to achieve millennium development goals."
Rep. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba (2nd District, Agusan del Norte), chairperson of
the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, said the celebration is anchor
ed on the importance of the Magna Carta of Women or the Republic Act 9710. It al
so sought to increase awareness on women's role in achieving the Millennium Deve
lopment Goals (MDG).
"We hope to create a wave of awareness as we promote gender equality and empower
ment of today's women," Amante-Matba said.
Amante-Matba hosted the House of Representatives flag ceremony Monday which mark
ed the formal launching of the event and had Cookie Chua and Tahanang Walang Hag
danan Dancers on Wheels as guest performers.
Today, the Gabriela Women's Party and the Center for Women's Resources is curren
tly holding a forum on the Filipino Women's Situation at the HREP Mitra Bldg.
Amante-Matba is leading a program and ribbon cutting ceremony for arts and photo
exhibits held at the South Wing Lobby in the afternoon sponsored by the Associa
tion of Lady Legislators.
"In the afternoon, it will be an all women session officers at the plenary, mann
ed by the Association of Lady Legislators," Amante-Matba said.
Amante-Matba said male legislators led by Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. (4t
h District, Quezon City) and Minority Leader Edcel C. Lagman (1st District, Alba
y) addressed and actively participated in the Forum on the Programme of Involvem
ent of Male Legislators in Eliminating Violence Against Women (EVAW) held at the
Rolando Andaya Hall.
Representatives from Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE), Ga
briela Women's Party (GWP), Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and
Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) and the House Committee on Population & Fam
ily Relations (CPFR) also participated in the forum.
A nurses forum on volunteerism was held at the minority conference room, at the
House of Representatives North Wing led by the Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) last
March 2.
"We deem it important for the House of Representatives to know the situation of
women, especially those from the grassroots. Our work as legislators impact grea
tly on women," Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party List, Gabriela) said.
"The week-long commemoration of Women's Month at the House of Representatives is
a venue to instill awareness on women's rights. We are hopeful that this will u
sher the enactment of legislation that will help uplift the rights and welfare o
f women and their families, especially those from the poorest communities," Ilag
an said.
A discussion on the Paralegal Training and Understanding under Republic Act 9262
or the Anti-Violence Against Women & Their Children Act of 2004, also sponsored
by the Gabriela Women's Party, was held at the Mitra Bldg. last March 10.
Furthermore, a public hearing on anti-violence against women and children and Ma
gna Carta of Women will be held on Cebu Normal University on March 17 and 18. Th
e participants are the Male Legislators in Eliminating Violence Against Women wi
th the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundatio
n, Inc., the House Committee on Population & Family Relations, Men Opposed to Vi
olence Against Women Everywhere, Gabriela Women s Party and Oversight on Implement
ation of Women Laws.
Also, a group of lady legislators led by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Partylist,
Bagong Henerasyon) will conduct a medical mission at Barangay Batasan Hills on M
arch 21. Skills livelihood trainings on water lily baskets and slipper making fo
r Indigent women of Barangay Batasan will also be held at the South Wing Lobby o
f the House of Representatives.
A dialogue with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretar
y Dinky Soliman on the Conditional Cash Transfer Program on March 22, 2pm at the
Mitra Bldg and a recollection and retreat with Archbishop Socrates Villegas on
March 23, at the HREP Andaya Hall.
On March 28, the National Council on Disability Affairs will conduct a forum on
entrepreneurship while TESDA representatives will hold a basic training on jewel
ry making, cake decoration, flower arrangement and bartending at the House of Re
presentatives. The other participants are the Philippine Commission on Women, De
partment of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, DSW
D and some other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).