Scaling Impact: PCW Convenes LGUs, Calls for Unified Action on Care Economy

^{CARING FOR THOSE WHO CARE.  PCW and LGU officials convene to share insights, strategies, and commitments for advancing the care economy in their communities.}

Championing the advancement of the care economy at the local level, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) convenes local government units (LGUs) with existing care economy and related ordinances for a two-day consultation on December 17–18, 2025, in Parañaque City. More than a policy discussion, the gathering created a dynamic space for LGUs to exchange experiences, surface practical solutions, and strengthen collective action toward care-responsive governance.

 ^{PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla highlights the vital role of care in strengthening families and communities during her keynote presentation.}

Setting the tone for the consultation, PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla delivers a keynote presentation titled “The Invisible Engine: Overview of the Philippine Care Economy.” She sheds light on the often-unseen but indispensable role of care in sustaining society, particularly amid technological disruption, climate-related challenges, and demographic shifts. Chair Valdeavilla emphasizes that care is the foundation of human life and progress, enabling families to thrive, communities to function, and nations to remain resilient. “Care is the bedrock of human existence,” she says.

 ^{PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar engages LGU officials on the vital role of care work in communities.}

Reinforcing this message, PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar underscores that care work is the backbone of families, communities, and the nation, stressing the importance of supporting and strengthening care initiatives across all levels of governance.

^{Ms. Mariquit Cherry S. Melgar, representing Hon. Maria Rene Ann Matibag, shares key legislative efforts to strengthen the care economy.}

Ms. Mariquit Cherry S. Melgar of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality also shares the House of Representatives’ initiatives to strengthen and advance the care economy, emphasizing the crucial role of crafting new care economy bills. 

Care That Matters

^{LGU officials share insights, successes, and challenges in promoting the care economy in their communities.}

A central feature of the consultation is the focused discussion on Local Policy Innovation on Care and Inclusive Governance, where LGUs showcase how care principles translate into concrete action on the ground. The City Government of Tarlac, represented by Atty. Hanz Benedict Gaerlan and Atty. Ana Fatima Marauda, shares how gender-responsive governance is operationalized through safe working environments for women, strengthened health services, functional barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desks, and continuing education programs addressing sexual harassment. Chair Valdeavilla emphasizes the importance of clearly distinguishing care work policies from broader gender mainstreaming efforts to ensure more targeted and effective interventions. She also notes that situating care within broader LGU policies can be strategic, as it ensures sustainability and provides the necessary personnel, budgets, mechanisms, and attention from the local government.

^{Mayor Melchor L. Mergal showcases the Municipality of Salcedo’s  care ordinance as a powerful driver of community well-being and progress.}

Mayor Melchor L. Mergal of the Municipal Government of Salcedo shares how Eastern Samar’s province-wide care ordinance, passed in 2024, paves the way for its adoption across all cities and municipalities in the province. He notes that the ordinance, anchored on social protection, holistic support services, and information campaigns, supports Eastern Samar’s rapid economic growth. Chair Valdeavilla highlights Mayor Mergal’s experience as a concrete example of how care economy initiatives translate into improved social outcomes, setting a model that other LGUs can draw inspiration from.

Analyn E. Zaldivar of the Province of Guimaras shares programs that provide social and employment support to women engaged in unpaid care work, while Kristine Irish May Cuenca of the City of Dipolog shares how their care ordinance addresses women’s unpaid care burdens, promotes economic participation, and strengthens community safety.

^{LGU officials present their initiatives in integrating care to empower women and men in redistributing and transforming local care economies.}

For Iloilo City, Supervising Administrative Officer of the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development (OCSWDO) Robert C. Niño Jr. presents their Rise to Action Plan Policy, which integrates care initiatives into local plans and budgets while fostering strong partnerships with stakeholders to create a more inclusive environment. Meanwhile, Atty. Christine Dela Cruz of the Municipality of Kalibo, Aklan, emphasizes that planning, programming, budgeting, and monitoring remain crucial to effectively operationalize care policies. 

Collectively, these presentations underscore the importance of local innovation, collaboration, and strategic implementation in advancing the care economy across communities.

Breaking Down Barriers

The consultation also explores the intersection of care and economic opportunities, as LGUs share what motivates them to adopt care policies and how these translate into long-term development gains.  Shared vision of results  emerges: ensuring caregivers receive adequate support, care responsibilities are more evenly shared, and communities, especially the most vulnerable, experience improved well-being.

In synthesizing the discussions, Chair Valdeavilla notes the shared strength of LGUs in prioritizing accessible Barangay VAW Desks, stressing that proximity and convenience are critical for women seeking support. She also highlights remaining gaps, including the need for more male champions of care and stronger engagement with the private sector, while encouraging LGUs to explore offering flexible work-from-home opportunities for both women and men. Additionally, she underscores the importance of optimizing digital technology to expand the reach and impact of care services.

^{PCW Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director for Management Services Macario T. Jusayan presents the PCEF, guiding LGUs in integrating care into local development.}

Serving as a guide for LGUs in integrating care into planning, budgeting, and implementation, PCW Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director for Management Services Macario T. Jusayan presents the Overview of the Philippine Care Economy Framework (PCEF) emphasizing that it positions care as a social responsibility and a strategic pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

^{Mayor Leo Jasper M. Candido shares Quinapondan’s care ordinance supporting women, promoting shared responsibility, and economic empowerment.}

Mayor Leo Jasper M. Candido of Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, shares how their local government crafted a care ordinance to directly support women engaged in unpaid care work, ensure access to services, and shift social norms through awareness campaigns and “real education” aimed at breaking intergenerational cycles of unpaid household work. The municipality also holds community dialogues involving husbands, helping men realize their role in shared care responsibilities, and delighting women who see the positive changes in their communities. His approach, which emphasizes care-sensitive child-rearing to train the next generation, has already earned two international awards, and Mayor Candido notes their plans to further enhance the ordinance by strengthening its focus on economic empowerment.

Commitment to Care

^{Participants pledged personal and institutional support to strengthen the care economy.}

The participating LGUs posted their LGU commitments to further advancing their care economy, underscoring the importance of translating dialogue into concrete and sustained action. The activity reflected a shared resolve to recognize, value, and invest in care as a foundational pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

^{PCW Deputy Director for Operations Anita E. Baleda acknowledges participants’ vital contributions and lauds LGUs as national leaders in advancing care.}

In her closing message, PCW Deputy Director for Operations Anita E. Baleda expressed gratitude to the participants for their vital role in finalizing the PCEF roadmap, noting that the process was enriched by the experiences, insights, and good practices shared during the consultation. She commended the participating LGUs, recognizing them as national exemplars for their leadership and commitment to advancing care-responsive initiatives.

The two-day consultation generated actionable insights to further strengthen the PCEF, highlighting the promotion of men’s leadership in care policies, active engagement of the business sector, and encouraging LGUs to explore offering flexible work-from-home opportunities for women and men It also underscored the importance of collaboration among officials to optimize resources and the strategic use of digital technology to expand the reach and impact of care services. 

These outcomes reaffirm that advancing the care economy demands not only commitment, but also innovation, cooperation, and shared responsibility, ensuring that care remains the central pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.