Benigno Simeon Cojuanco Aquino III

LIST OF OFFICIALS

Chairperson: Remedios I. Rikken

Executive Director: Emmeline L. Verzosa
Deputy Executive Directors: Manuela M. Silva, Cecile B. Gutierrez

2010

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

On July 8, 2010, PCW launched the Magna Carta on Women Implementing Rules and Regulations to its partners and stakeholders. It has revised its structure and staffing pattern to efficiently and effectively accomplish its mandate.

Walk for Women’s Rights, participated by men and women from national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, women’s groups, and other sectors to raise awareness of women’s role in all spheres of public and private life, to acknowledge the struggles of women for the recognition, promotion, protection and fulfillment of their human rights. On July 8, 2010, PCW launched the Magna Carta on Women Implementing Rules and Regulations to its partners and stakeholders. It has revised its structure and staffing pattern to efficiently and effectively accomplish its mandate. ¹

The PCW Board of Commissioners adopted the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta of Women on March 30, 2010.

Creation of a VAW Desk in every barangay, localizing the Magna Carta of Women.

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

RA 10151: An Act Allowing Employment of Night Workers; expanded men’s and women’s employment or work options, particularly women who were prohibited from working at night under Articles 130 and 131 of the Labor Code of the Philippines.

2011

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Marching for Reproductive Health, Marching for Life, participated by 6000 men, women, and youth from various government and non-government organizations, marked the 2011 International Women’s Day.²

Around 3300 members of various government agencies and civil society organizations joined the Go NaGo for RH Bill, Ipasa Na, an event that called for immediate passage of the RH Bill.³

Synchronized blowing of whistle in various government agencies. Blowing the whistle is symbolic of the united commitment to stop violence against women.⁴

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

RA 10175: Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; protects women and children from violence and abuse brought about by developments in information technology.

2012

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Implementation of the Institutional Strengthening of National and Local Governance on Human Rights and Economic Empowerment with a Gender Focus: Implementation of the Magna Carta of Women, an initiative to reduce gender disparities and inequalities in economic, social, and political spheres. This is in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

In collaboration with the Provincial Government of Rizal and the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, the PCW conducted a seedling preparation activity as part of the National Women’s Month. It aims to help rehabilitate the Marikina watershed and raise the consciousness of participants on gender and DRRM, and climate change adaptation.⁵

The Media and Gender Equality Committee held consultations on Gender Equality Guidelines, Guidelines to Protect Women Against Discrimination in Media and Film, and Code of Ethics for Media.⁶ The PCW and Benguet Provincial Government hold a Magna Carta of Women information caravan to emphasize the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of women’s rights and to disseminate information on the obligations of government, non-government organizations, civil society, and the private sector to implement the Magna Carta on Women.⁷

Barangay VAW Desk Handbook was launched at MOVE-Aklan’s 4th Provincial Congress.⁸

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

RA 10354: The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 or the Reproductive Health Law provides for a national policy on responsible parenthood and reproductive health.

RA 10364: Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2013.

RA 10361: The Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay institutes policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers.

2013

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

The PCW rolled out training on National Violence Against Women Documentation System (VAWDocs) to almost 400 Aklanon stakeholders members of the barangays, policewomen, social workers, DILG officers, and members of the Aklan Gender Commission.⁹

The PCW showed their support to the 1 Billion Rising global campaign on February 14, 2013. 1 Billion Rising is a global strike to demand an end to the violence experienced by more than one billion women.¹⁰

The GREAT Women Project and the Enabling Communities with Hope and Opportunities Sustainable Initiatives (ECHOsi) Foundation introduced the GREAT Women Brand and its product line to the national media. The GREAT Women Brand Media Launch presented the brand with a distinct line of upscale food products, lifestyle goods, and homeopathic care products manufactured by women micro-entrepreneurs.¹¹

The PCW lauded President Benigno Aquino III for appointing women to top posts that men traditionally held.¹²

The international community has praised the Philippines for the key role it played in a historic global agreement to eliminate violence against women and girls.¹³

The Gender Equality Committee launched the Code of Ethics for Media, Gender Equality Guide, and Guidelines to Protect Women from Discrimination in Media and Film. These were collectively called Towards a Gender Fair Media.¹⁴

The PCW piloted the Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS). This web-based system automates the submission and monitoring of the GAD Plan and Budget and GAD Accomplishment Report of government agencies and LGUs to five LGUs of the Iloilo Province. ¹⁵

Launch of the Gender and Development Transformation and Institutionalization through Mainstreaming of Programs, Agenda, Linkages and Advocacies (GADtimpala) Awards 2013. It aims to recognize the outstanding achievement or performance of government agencies in upholding the rights of women through gender mainstreaming, gender equality, and women’s empowerment through policy formulation, the establishment of local structures or mechanisms, and effective implementation of gender-responsive programs, projects, activities or services.¹⁶

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

RA 10398: Declaring November 25 of every year as “National Consciousness day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.”

2014

SIGNIFICANT EVENT/S

The PCW launched the Women’s Empowerment, Development, and Gender Equality (EDGE) Plan 2013-2016, the fourth gender-focused plan formulated by the Philippines since 1989. The formulation of the Women’s EDGE Plan provided a timely opportunity to review persistent and emerging gender issues and to take these into account in the government’s existing plans.¹⁷

The PCW recognized deserving national government agencies qualified for the GADtimpala Award. The recognitions were conferred during the 2014 National Women’s Month Celebration.

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

RA 10655: Repealing the Crime of Premature Marriage Under Article 351 of RA 3815 or the Revised Penal Code; the amendment decriminalizes premature marriages, especially among widows who marry soon after the death of her husband or annulment of marriage.

2015

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

According to the Guinness World Records, the Philippines became the official holder of the largest woman symbol formation, consisting of 10,168 people. According to Guinness World Records Alex Angert, there was no record for the largest human formation of a gender symbol.¹⁸

The PCW launched CineJuana, a film festival focusing on the issues of Violence Against Women.

NO SPECIFIC YEAR

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

President Aquino was the only President of the Republic of the Philippines who appointed the most number of women to his Cabinet. Over his six years, he appointed 13 women to Cabinet positions. No other President in the Philippine history appointed more women to lead constitutionally-created bodies..¹⁹

The innovative projects that were carried out were:²⁰

• Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women) resulted in improved quality and market reach of women’s enterprises that led to increased income and empowerment among women.

• The Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) increased entrepreneurial and managerial skills among women variety (sari-sari) store owners, resulting in a more sustainable source of income for the women micro-entrepreneurs and their families.

• Program of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

The Aquino administration succeeded in putting in place convergent efforts in addressing gender-based cases committed against women in the context of armed conflict and in ensuring participation of women in discourses leading to policy formulation, planning, and implementation of programs and activities towards resolving conflict through the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.²¹

Women’s participation in decision-making in the context of war and armed conflict was best manifested in the government’s management of peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which resulted in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.²²

One of the significant accomplishments in the Philippine government’s implementation of UNSCR 1325 was assigning two competent and experienced women experts: Presidential Adviser Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles and University of the Philippines Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, to the highest decision-making positions in the peace process in Mindanao.²³

The country’s achievement in the anti-trafficking campaign brought the Philippines to Tier 1 in the 2016 United States Department of State Trafficking Report.²⁴

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Cited Sources:

¹ Philippine Commission on Women. (2010). National Women’s Month 2010 Kick-Off a Success. Retrieved here July 2019.
² Philippine Commission on Women. (2011). March for RH Bill marks 2011 International Women’s Day in NCR. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
³ Philippine Commission on Women. (2011). PCW, NAPC, POPCOM lead RH mobilization. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
⁴ Philippine Commission on Women. (2011). Synchronized blowing of whistle culminate 2011 Anti-VAW Campaign. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
⁵ Philippine Commission on Women. (2012). 2012 Women’s Day Celebration highlights women’s role in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
⁶ Philippine Commission on Women. (2012). Media and Gender Equality Committee Hold Public Consultations. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
⁷ Philippine Commission on Women. (2012). The PCW and Benguet Provincial Government hold Magna Carta of Women. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
⁸ Philippine Commission on Women. (2012). Barangay VAW Desk Handbook launched at MOVE Aklan’s 4th Provincial Congress. Retieved  here on July 2019.
⁹ Philippine Commission on Women. (2012). Aklan trains 400 Anti-VAW service providers on VAWDocs. Retieved  here on July 2019.
¹⁰ Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). PCW joins 1 Billion Rising. Retieved  here on July 2019.
¹¹ Philippine Commission on Women.(2013). GREAT Women Brand Launched with Media. Retrieved here on July 2019.
¹² Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). PCW lauds P-Noy’s record number of women appointees in top posts. Retrieved here on July 2019.
¹³ Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). PHL gets intl praise for pact on violence against women and girls. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
¹⁴ Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). Gender equality committee launches guide for gender fair media. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
¹⁵ Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). PCW pilots Iloilo for GMMS. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
¹⁶ Philippine Commission on Women. (2013). PCW Launches GADtimpala 2013. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
¹⁷ Philippine Commission on Women 40th Anniversary Video. (2015). Retrieved  here on June 2019.
¹⁸ Philippine Commission on Women. (2015). Philippines sets world record on largest woman symbol formation. Retrieved here on July 2019.
¹⁹ State of the Filipino Women Report. (2015). Manila: Philippine Commission on Women.
²⁰ Ibid.
²¹ Ibid.
²² Ibid.
²³ Ibid.
²⁴ Ibid.