THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the celebration of the International Women’s month held at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central on Wednesday, March 8.
The celebration was attended by government leaders and employees and women’s organization leaders and advocates.
They have commemorated the gains of the women’s movement, the tenacity of the Filipino women, the sisterhood and solidarity that brought the women’s movement.
Governor Lacson offered flowers to women who attended the celebration.
He greeted them, “Happy International Women’s Day, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City!”
It is indeed remarkable, as the Province and the City of Bacolod are jointly celebrating the International Women’s Month.
In a previous message with the lady legislators, “I brought up the historical fact that Filipino women were given the right to vote only in 1937, which meant that in the past, only men were given the right to choose who will serve in the government. As the Governor of the Province, I am truly thankful that today’s government is not devoid and wanting of the Filipino Women’s talent, creativity, and intellect.”
He said what a disadvantage would that be if we further deprive society with what our women can contribute to nation-building.
As a society, Philippines has achieved strong results in many areas of gender equality like education, politics, and economic participation—with Filipino women encouraged to excel in school and in the workplace.
“While we also acknowledge the lingering reality of cultural expectations around gender roles and family responsibilities that continue to hold back some Filipino women from full equality, and those moments when women’s voices are ignored, disregarded, and half listened to,” the official said.
With that, he urged those who were present to continue the pursuit of women’s equality with boldness and courage.
This year’s International Women's Day theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” is leading us towards innovation and education in the digital age as means to achieve gender equality and empowerment.
“As what I discussed in Cadiz last week during the opening of the Women’s Month, if we are to look at survey data in the Philippines, while 62 percent of Filipino women surveyed were “somewhat familiar” with digital marketing, results reveal a strong desire for upskilling for the digital economy. And this is the part where the government must buttress its efforts,” he said.
For the province of Negros Occidental, he acknowledged that they have done concrete undertakings towards digitalization. Under the program on Digitalizing Health and Emergency Management, they have three pillars of services—the Negros Occidental Emergency 911, the One Hospital Command, and the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP).
“We continue to modernize and upgrade our IT equipment and infrastructure for ease of doing business with the government and even in our economic investment facilities. All these innovations will include the participation women. As for the upskilling of the Negrense women, we have the Negros Occidental Language & Information Technology Center or NOLITC, our leading institution that provide relevant and technology-driven human resource programs; promotes gender responsive services and produces globally-ready workforce in various competitive industries,” he added.
The Province of Negros Occidental, shall continue to create and uphold programs and policies with regard to good practices and measures in the pursuance of gender and development, to strengthen the Magna Carta of Women.
At this point, allow me to share with you this quote from an Australian feminism advocate, GD Anderson, "Feminism isn't about making women stronger, women are already strong, it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
May the Good Lord to continue to guide and enlighten the path of women empowerment. Abanse Negrense!, the governor said.