Women sector gears up

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 31, 2011) – Provincial officials have assured
support to the women sector and empower them financially.

“You are leaders of your community. We should make our own income
otherwise we will not be productive,” Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit
said at the International Women’s Month provincial culmination program
in A Montana Resort with 400 provincial participants under its
umbrella organization Women In Development of Sarangani (WINDS).

Saguiguit said the province this year provides an P8 million to P10
million for the Gender And Development’s micro-financing project.
“The flagship program of the governor is education. This will really
help improve the employment rate of the province,” Saguiguit said.

“We have to prepare our children for a better tomorrow. Education is a
responsibility of all. We need the participation of everyone in the
community. It takes a village to raise a child,” Governor Migs
Dominguez said.

“The future is bright. However, we have to start today in preparation
for our future,” Dominguez said.

Sarangani has seven women federations, one federation for its seven
municipalities mostly involved in livelihood projects and are
recognized by the provincial trade and industry as rural improvement
clubs.

Most of these members are housewives trying to earn additional income
for their families whom Governor Dominguez called “extra-ordinary
housewives”.

Guest speaker Attorney Cecile Diel, Board Member of South Cotabato,
emphasized the role of women in nation building and the State’s equal
protection for men and women in the society.

Diel also reminded local legislators to enhance the protection of
women in the community.

“It is the duty of the legislative body to legislate laws for the
elimination of all forms of discrimination against women,” Diel said.

Diel cited several laws such as RA 9262 (Violence Against Women and
Children) and RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women) that promote the equal
protection clause imbedded in the Bill of Rights.

“Education should be better in order for men to revisit his values.
Laws are easier to change but customs and norms are more difficult to
undo or eradicate,” Diel said.

“I am a woman, just like a man, and I am entitled the fundamental
right to self- determination and the pursuit of happiness,” Diel said.
Dominguez swore into office the new set of officers of the WINDS with
Perla Ampodia from Maitum town as president. (Russtum G.
Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)