Gloria Macapagal Arroyo



LIST OF OFFICIALS

Chairperson: Aurora J. de Dios (2001-2004)
Myrna T. Yao (2004-2010)

Executive Director: Ermelita V. Valdeavilla (2001)
Emmeline L. Verzosa (2002-2010)
Deputy Executive Director: Lorenza A. Umali


Government Organization Commissioners

Sec. Alberto Romulo, DFA
Sec. Angelo Reyes, DILG
Sec. Arthur Yap, DA
DG Romulo L. Neri, NEDA
Sec. Cesar Purisima, DTI
Sec. Manuel M. Dayrit, DOH
Sec. Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, DOLE
Sec. Edilberto C. De Jesus, DepEd
Sec. Emilia T. Boncodin, DBM
Sec. Corazon Juliano-Soliman, DSWD

Permanent Alternate Representatives

Ma. Cleofe Natividad, DFA
Usec. Margarita R. Cojuanco, DILG
Jindra Linda L. Demetrio/Nieva Natural, DA
ADG Margarita R. Songco, NEDA
Assec. Armin B. Raquel-Santos, DTI
Assec. Zenaida O. Ludovice, DOH
Usec. Danilo P. Cruz, DOLE
NEAP-DD Alice A. Pañarez, DepEd
Usec. Mario L. Relampagos, DBM
Usec. LourdesG. Balanon, DSWD

Non-Government Organization Commissioners

Eulalia H. Lim
Germelyn G. Esparrago
Myrna S. Feliciano
Jurgette A. Honculada
Damcelle S. Torres
Isabelita Sy-Palanca
Encarnacion N. Raralio
Amelou Benitez-Reyes
Barbara C. Gonzales
Myrna T. Yao


2001

SIGNIFICANT EVENT


The NCRFW supported the administration’s poverty alleviation agenda by sustaining the past gains in making the bureaucracy work for women under the thrust of advancing and protecting human rights, promoting women’s economic empowerment, and promoting gender-responsive governance.1

2002

SIGNIFICANT EVENT


President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo supported the Framework Plan for Women, which aimed to promote women’s economic empowerment, protect women’s human rights, and encourage and strengthen gender-responsive governance. It served as the government’s guide in planning and budgeting for GAD programs and projects, and activities.2


2003

LEGISLATIVE VICTORY


RA 9208: Amended Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which strengthens the power of the authority to prosecute pre-empted acts of trafficking, eliminates the privacy clause previously enjoyed by traffickers, and penalizes the confiscation of travel documents such as passports and working permits from trafficked persons.

2004

LEGISLATIVE VICTORY


RA 9262: Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 penalizes the commission of violence against women and their children (VAWC) in the context of domestic violence or violence in intimate relationships.

2005

LEGISLATIVE VICTORY


Executive Order No. 425, s. 2005: Directing the DSWD to exercise oversight function over the NCRFW in facilitating coordination of policies and programs; advocating women issues and concerns at the Executive Level and other ministerial fora; ensuring gender mainstreaming in policymaking, planning, programming, all affecting the advancement of the Filipino women.

2006

SIGNIFICANT EVENT


Implementation of the Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women) Project, a governance and capacity development project that aimed to promote and support a gender-responsive enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment, specifically those in the micro-enterprise.3




LEGISLATIVE VICTORY


Proclamation No. 1172: Declaring November 25 to December 12 of every year as the “18-day Campaign to End VAW.”

2007

SIGNIFICANT EVENT


The GREAT Women Project has been supported by six major provinces categorized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Economic and Development Authority, and the National Nutrition Council as priority areas for hunger mitigation and considered the poorest in the country.4

2008

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS


The Philippine government has received a commendation from the Association of South East Asian Nations’ member-states for the country’s success in closing the gender gap by promoting human development opportunities. The Philippines has successfully maintained its 6th rank in the Global Gender Index.5



The NCRFW and Vibal Foundation unveiled two women’s Internet portals: Wikipilipinas.org (encyclopedia of Filipino women) and Filipiniana.net (Philippine women’s studies), which contain a collection of articles on the life stories, achievements, struggles, and contributions of Filipinas in the Philippines and the world.6


The NCRFW urged the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines to expedite the passage of the landmark bill “Magna Carta of Women,” which aims to address the gender biases in the country and promote women’s empowerment. 7


The Philippine government, through the NCRFW, led the 2008 International Conference on Gender, Migration, and Development: Seizing Opportunities, Upholding Rights to address the issues, challenges, and opportunities for migrant women and their families. The “feminization of migration” phenomenon already existed because of increased social acceptance of Filipino women’s relative autonomy in household decision-making and export-led industrialization.8


Launch of the Gender Justice Awards II, an initiative that recognized Philippine judges who have rendered the most gender-sensitive court decisions on VAW cases from 2004 to 2008.9


Launch of VAW-Responsive LGU awards, an award that was open to all barangays, municipalities, and cities with policies, programs, services, and interventions; and implement and monitor mechanisms to address VAW.

2009

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS


The Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women, was signed on August 14, 2009. It expanded the functions of then NCRFW, subsequently changing its name to Philippine Commission on Women.

President Arroyo signed the Magna Carta of Women

PCW’s GREAT Women Project integrated environmental components to ensure that women’s microenterprises would operate within the bounds of sustainable productions.10

GAD concerns have been integrated with the national peace process by formulating the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820.11

The PCW participated in the task force on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Statistics, tasked to address the need for a sustainable up-to-date, and publicly available database of MSME.12

The Commission influenced the Agreed Conclusions of the 53rd UN Committee on the Status of Women in New York, especially on the issues of men’s involvement in VAW and equal sharing of responsibilities between men and women, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS.13

Finalized the Gender and Development Code Guidelines, which guide the formulation of an LGU’s comprehensive piece of local legislation or ordinance to support its efforts in promoting, protecting, and fulfilling women’s human rights towards the attainment of gender equality and women’s empowerment.14

The NCRFW collaborated with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship for the Go Negosyo: Babae, Yaman Ka ng Bayan, the most significant women’s event of the year that featured negosyo basics—best marketing practices for small enterprises, entrepreneurial financial management, leadership styles, competitiveness in the export market, and technology utilization.15


NCRFW on-air: the Tinig ng Kababaihan, the first NCRFW radio program in partnership with the Bureau of Broadcast Services, aims to raise awareness of the government’s efforts to promote gender equality and uphold women’s human rights. It was aired every second and last Friday of the month.16



The NCRFW unveiled the PhilGAD portal, the country’s electronic gateway to gender and development. It was NCRFW’s online knowledge base for information on GAD activities and Filipino women’s status in the Philippines.17


The following judges were awarded with Gender Justice Awards II:
• Judge Victoria Isabel A. Paredes
• Judge Marilyn L. Yap
• Judge Albert S. Axalan
• Sandiganbayan Division Award

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES


RA 9710: Magna Carta of Women is a comprehensive women’s rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.

RA 9775: Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009
RA 9995: Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009

RA 10121: Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and RA 9729: Climate Change Act; aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change and disasters

RA 10028: Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act, called for the setting up of lactation stations or breastfeeding areas in public and private offices, as well as in health and non-health establishments.



Cited Sources:

1 Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d). Herstory. Retrieved here on July 2019.
2 Gender Focus. (2002). Manila: National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.
3 Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d). Herstory. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
4 Philippine Commission on Women. (2007). Yes, to women’s economic empowerment, says LGUs.Retrieved here on July 2019.
5 Philippine Commission on Women . (2008). ASEAN lauds RP for closing gender gap. Retrieved  here on July 2019. 
6 Philippine Commission on Women . (2008). NCRFW celebrates Pinay power. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
7 Philippine Commission on Women. (2008). NCRFW urges Congress to expedite passage of Magna Carta of Women. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
8 Philippine Commission on Women. (2008). International confab to come up with Manila call to action for the protection of migrant women’s rights. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
9 Philippine Commission on Women. (2009). Launching of the Gender Justice Awards II. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
10 State of the Filipino Women Report. (2015). Manila: Philippine Commission on Women. Retrieved here.
11 PCW Annual Accomplishment Report. (2009). Retrieved  here on July 2009.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
15 Phillipine Commission on Women. (2009). NCRFW partners with Go Negosyo for 2009 Women’s Month celebration. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
16 Philippine Commission on Women. (2009). Radio promotion of Tinig ng Kababaihan. Retrieved  here on July 2019.
17 Philippine Commission on Women. (2009).NCRFW launches PhilGAD portal, the country’s gateway to gender and development. Retrieved  here on July 2019.