Monday, October 08, 2007 Group formed to empower women in the farms By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
FOURTH District Representative Jeffrey Ferrer congratulated the Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Kuatro Distrito (SKKD) for having been organized and officially recognized by the province, therefore, will be entitled to benefits and congressional funds for livelihood projects.
Ferrer was inducting officer of the SKKD officials last Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Grand Regal Hotel.
Ferrer urged the SKKD to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) so it can sign contract with the his congressional office for the group's other needed resources.
Ferrer explained that, at present, there are eight pending bills in congress designed to uplift women's plight and uphold women's rights, but he does not need to wait for these to be passed.
He then told SKKD, "After my meeting with Tesda, you can already avail of congressional funding to start your training needs."
"It is more difficult for a congressman to extend help than the mayors. But I have brought along with me Pontevedra Mayor Joemar Alonso and La Carlota Mayor Demy John Honrado to assure you that our support for the cause of women is all-out," Ferrer further stressed.
Meanwhile, SKKD president Josefa Alfonso explained that the fight against poverty is long and arduous, saying, "The first priority in women empowerment is herself. She must understand her role and she must have potentials to help in augmenting family income."
"She must, therefore, transcend from her 'minor' role in society to become the leading light," Alfonso added of a woman.
"Along the way, the woman will begin to see vested interest, political evil and substandard public support system around that will stop her from leading a life," she also said.
Alfonso stressed, "This is where the SKKD will come in. Our campaign is to educate women how to source funds from their own barangay but eventually must develop a skill that goes beyond pulling weeds in the farms," she added.
