Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr.

1975-1986

THE FIRST DECADE OF THE NCRFW 

By virtue of Presidential Decree No. 633 signed by President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos on January 7, 1975, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) was finally instituted: a body that ensured the full integration of women for economic, social, and cultural development, also known as the first national women’s machinery in Asia.¹ It was a major achievement for Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines (CAWP) per its Resolution No. 4 approved on June 8, 1974.²

Mandated to “review, evaluate, recommend measures, including priorities to ensure the full integration of women for economic, social and cultural development at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure further equality between women and men,” its Board of Commissioners was composed of Cabinet Secretaries of government Departments tasked to implement policies and programs on women’s advancement and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) representing various sectors.³

The first Board of Commissioners was chaired by then First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, with Irene Cortez as Vice-Chairperson. Dr. Leticia Perez de Guzman was its first Executive Director.⁴

NCRFW’s founding year or the International Women’s Year coincided with the first world conference on women held in Mexico from June 19 to July 2, 1975. It identified three objectives for the upcoming decade: (1) full gender equality and the elimination of gender discrimination, (2) the integration and full participation of women in development, and (3) an increased contribution by women towards strengthening world peace.⁵

The First Lady and NCRFW Chairperson Imelda Marcos attended the conference and served as one of the speakers at the plenary sessions. Two publications prepared by the Commission were distributed at the conference and at the World Tribune, held simultaneously in Mexico City: (1) “The Role of Women in the Philippines” and the (2) “Filipino Woman, A Humanizing Factor in Philippine Society.”⁶

After the conference, developing countries urged the CSW to draft a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be based on the DEDAW adopted by the UN in 1967. Shahani, still Chair of the CSW, initiated to prepare an entire working draft of the CEDAW. Co-sponsored by a Russian delegate, Tatiana Nikolaeva, it became known as the Philippine-Soviet Draft and was later adopted by the working group as a basic working paper. ⁷

NCRFW’s work during its first decade, which also covered the UN Decade for Women: Equality, Development, and Peace (1976 to 1985), was influenced by the Women and Development framework vis-à-vis the UN Global Program for Action. It focused on improving women’s welfare and on programs and projects for women being left out of development on account of their lack of education, training, credit, and low self-esteem.⁸

In 1977, the Commission mobilized the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (BSK), a nationwide women’s movement organized to create opportunities for expanded roles of women in the nation’s economic, social, and political activities. They mobilized women leaders in villages, cities, municipalities, and provinces. They involved them in programs and projects that could improve women’s participation, leadership, livelihood, and income generation skills to augment the family income.⁹

BSK focused on health, education, and economic empowerment, including employment, which were also key sub-themes of the UN Decade for Women. BSK reported a membership of nearly 3 million women, organized into 132 provincial and city councils.

BSK was subsequently incorporated as a non-profit organization, the National Balikatan Foundation, which continued to pursue its mission of providing direct assistance to economic and social undertakings of women for entrepreneurial development.¹⁰

On the international front, the UN General Assembly adopted the CEDAW, also known as the International Bill of Rights of Women or the Women’s Convention, on December 18, 1979.¹¹ The Philippines signed it on July 15, 1980 and became the first ASEAN country to ratify it on August 5, 1981. CEDAW finally took effect on September 3, 1981.

The second world conference on women took place in Copenhagen, Denmark from July 14 to ⁠30, identifying three spheres in which measures for equality, development, and peace were needed: (1) equal access to education, (2) equal access to employment opportunities, and (3) equal access to adequate health care services.¹² NCRFW Chairperson Imelda Marcos delivered the Policy Statement of the First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines before the conference.¹³

During its first decade, the NCRFW focused on conducting policy studies and lobbying for the issuance of executive and legislative measures concerning women, establishing a clearing house and information center on women, and advocating for the ratification of  the CEDAW.

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

• Presidential Decree 633: Creation of the NCRFW
• Proclamation No. 1609: Declaring Every January 6^th “Araw Balikatan”
• Memorandum Circular No. 971: Organization of Local Committees or Councils to Pursue the Objectives of “Balikan sa Kaunlaran”
• Letter of Instructions 974: Integration of Women in National Development
• Letter of Instructions 1066: Philippine Targets and Strategies for Full Participation of Women in Socio-Economic Development 1980-1985

1976

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• A “Pulong-Pulong” (public forum) was held with national agencies about the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the NCRFW’s programs over its two-year existence¹⁴
• A Manifesto addressed to government was signed by representatives of the private organized sector pledging their support to “Balikatan sa Kaunlaran”¹⁵

1977

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• The “Balikatan sa Kaunlaran” was established by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1609, followed by Memorandum Circular No. 971 ¹⁶
• Five Balikatan concerns were identified: (1) conservation of resources and values, (2) care of children, (3) concern of environment, (4) consumer protection, and (5) commitment to justice ¹⁷

1978

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• Activities of the NCRFW were focused on: (1) promotion of national solidarity, (2) strengthening of the family, and (3) acceleration of economic productivity ¹⁸

1979

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• The eleven basic needs of a human person (identified by the Ministry of Human Settlements) were incorporated among the thrusts of the NCRFW to assist, promote, and improve the welfare of rural women: (1) water, (2) power, (3) food, (4) clothing, (5) economic base, (6) medical services, (7) education, culture, and technology, (8) ecological balance, (9) sports and recreation, (10) shelter, and (11) mobility ¹⁹

1980

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• The five-year Plan of Action for Filipino Women was adopted at the first National Women’s Congress held on January 4 to 5, embodying the Philippine targets and strategies for fuller integration of women in socio-economic development 1980–1985²⁰
• Letter of Instructions No. 974 was issued on January 5 (during the first National Women’s Congress), directing the different ministries and agencies to take affirmative steps to implement laws extending equality of treatment of women and men in employment, work opportunities, and pay; eliminating unreasonable discrimination on the basis of sex; and requiring periodic reports on action taken²¹
• Letter of Instructions No. 1066 was issued on September 18, directing the Ministries of Labor and Employment, Education and Culture, and Health to look into the priority areas as spelled out in the Targets and Strategies for the Full Participation of Women in Socio-Economic Development for 1980–1985 ²²
• A National Data Bank: A Clearinghouse and Information Center on Women was established, which would primarily serve as a resource base of information²³
• A remarkable growth and expansion in the program and membership of the BSK took place²⁴

1981

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• The five-year Implementation Program of the Philippine Plan of Action for Women was adopted by the second National Women’s Congress held on January 5 to 6 to ensure accelerated integration of women in development and draw the commitment of the government and private sectors to support the Plan²⁵
• The launching of the Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK), the national livelihood program to which NCRFW relied KKKK or Kababaihan: Kabalikat sa Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran, was received by the women as an additional incentive to their pursuit of livelihood projects²⁶
• The Philippines ratified the CEDAW and bound itself to incorporate provision in its constitution, codes, and laws according equality between men and women, adopt appropriate laws prohibiting discrimination against women, and abolish all existing laws, regulations, customs, and practices that discriminate against them²⁷
• The fourth Philippine Republic was inaugurated, setting the political atmosphere for NCRFW²⁸

1985

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Executive Director Remedios Rikken attended the Women’s Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where she became acquainted with gender mainstreaming. The Nairobi Conference laid out a plan of action until 2000 on a broader range of issues, including a new focus on gender-based violence.²⁹

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_{1 National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: Making Government Work for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality. Retrieved here.
2  National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: Our First Year 1975. Retrieved here.
3  National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: Making Government Work for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality. Retrieved here.
4 Ibid.
5 World Conference of the International Women’s Year 19 June-2 July 1975, Mexico City, Mexico. Retrieved here.
6 National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: Our First Year 1975. Retrieved here.
7 Shaping the Women’s Global Agenda: Filipino Women in the United Nations Edited by Olivia H. Tripon
8  National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: Making Government Work for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality. Retrieved here.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11  Shaping the Women’s Global Agenda: Filipino Women in the United Nations Edited by Olivia H. Tripon
12  World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women 14-30 July 1980, Copenhagen, Denmark. Retrieved here. 
13 NCRFW 1980 Annual Report. Retrieved here.
14  Kababaihan Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran: National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women Annual Report 1976. Retrieved here.
15 Ibid.
16 National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: 1977 Annual Report. Retrieved here.
17 The Women’s Decade in the Philippines: Focus on the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. Retrieved here.
18 National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: 1978 Annual Report. Retrieved here.
19  Ibid.
20  National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: 1981 Annual Report. Retrieved here.
21 NCRFW 1980 Annual Report. Retrieved here. 
22  Ibid.
23  Ibid.
24  Ibid.
25 National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: 1981 Annual Report. Retrieved here.
26  Ibid.
27  Ibid.
28  Ibid.
29 “Overlooked No More: Leticia Ramos Shahani, a Philippine Women’s Rights Pioneer.” Retrieved here.}