PCW Presents Priority Agenda at the Inaugural Meeting
of HRep Committee on Women and Gender Equality

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), headed by Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, served as a resource speaker during the Organization and First Regular Meeting of the House of Representatives’ (HRep) Committee on Women and Gender Equality on October 8, 2025. The agency shared its mandates, policy directions, and points for collaboration to further advance gender-transformative initiatives across the country.

During this inaugural session, the committee, chaired by Hon. Ann Matibag, adopted its Provisional Internal Rules of Procedure and formed four (4) Sub-Committees, namely: Sub-Committee on Violence Against Women and their Children; Sub-Committee on Oversight; Sub-Committee on LGBTQIA+; and Sub-Committee on Women and Girl-Children’s Rights.

^{Members of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality (CWGE) convene for their First Regular Meeting at the House of Representatives.}

At the forefront of advancing women’s rights in the country, Chairperson Valdeavilla discussed the PCW’s history, mandates, major milestones, key programs that uphold women’s empowerment and dignity, and indicative areas of collaboration between the PCW and CWGE. She also shared the draft Executive Order to strengthen the PCW as a national women’s machinery, which includes the establishment of five field offices; creation of a Gender and Development (GAD) Training and Research Institute; and the provision of plantilla positions for GAD personnel across government agencies.

_{Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla shares PCW’s mandates, policy directions, and points for collaboration for Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda.}

Moreover, Chair Valdeavilla informed the legislators that PCW has called the attention of agencies that have been consistently non-compliant or have failed to submit their GAD Plans and Budgets (GPB), as mandated in the Magna Carta of Women since 2019. In response, Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo moved to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation to allow the Committee to investigate and gather information for crafting new laws, enhancing existing ones, or formulating policies related to GPB implementation. The motion was duly approved and adopted. Rep. Macapagal-Arroyo was the President when RA 9710 was signed into law.

Expressing her gratitude for the productive dialogue, Chair Valdeavilla conveyed her gratitude and appreciation to the CWGE: “The PCW is immensely grateful for the opportunity to speak before the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality on matters that are profoundly important to women’s lives. The interactions were substantive, sincere, and empowering. It was like finding a family of allies in the Legislature. I am hopeful that this is just the beginning of a very productive partnership in the years ahead.”

Looking ahead, Hon. Matibag announced that a bill by Akbayan Party List Representative Dadah Kiram Ismulah is underway to further strengthen the Philippine Commission on Women, the government’s oversight agency for advancing women’s empowerment and ensuring gender mainstreaming nationwide.