For Week 9 on the Weekly Assessment Exercise of the Regional Fellowship Program on Parliamentary Diplomacy (RFPPD) under the Parliament Institute of Cambodia (PIC) of which I am one of the fellows, I prepared a draft memo for the consideration of our Acting Secretary General in the House of Representatives on the implementation of the recently passed law increasing the maternity leave from 90 days to 105 days. This is one of the hallmarks legislation in empowering women and achieving gender equality in the Philippines at present.
As an added reflection on this important transnational issue, you may also read my notes on gender equality also in memo form addressed to my instructor on this subject. I have gained much from the insights of Ms. Naila Kabeer where she rightly underscored that policies must be implemented where women can participate, monitor and can hold decision makers accountable, otherwise they will be powerless to empower women. Moreover, even if there will be women in governance but that they won’t be representing the grassroots but only the elite, such an achievement would not mean anything.
On a related perspective, this prevailing issue has made me reflect on the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. A description of this very empowered woman can be read in verses 10-31. The issue of choice, access to opportunities and resources, sense of self-worth and independence and the power to control her life within and outside the home are all exercised and manifested by this woman. All that God meant her to become and be doing are embodied in this narration.
I particularly like verses 25-29 which states:
” Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
Even though the Philippines is number 1 in terms of gender equality in the ASEAN Region at 29.5%, it is still number 51 in the world. So much work still has to be done. Hopefully Philippine legislation will continue to mature and will be able to correct and transform unequal practices and beliefs both for men and women alike in order to achieve true gender equality.
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