Statement of the Chairperson
of the Philippine Commission on Women
on Her Courtesy Resignation

I have submitted my courtesy resignation to His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in response to his call for the resignation of all Cabinet Secretaries and Heads of Agencies.  I strongly believe in the wisdom and intent of this directive. Our people deserve nothing but the best in governance – honest, responsive, inclusive, accessible, and transformative, especially for women and those who continue to be left behind. 

It has been a great honour to have served under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as Chairperson of PCW for the past 11 months. During this period, we have: 

• Stabilized the Commission’s top leadership and key positions; 
  
• Introduced a strategic, result-based approach in our interventions; 
  
• Pursued an executive order to significantly strengthen the PCW;  
• Demonstrated substantive leadership in three major international high-level conferences on gender equality; 
• Revived partnerships with the diplomatic community through the ODA-GAD Network; 
• Secured the Philippines’ membership in the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women); 
• Adopted a Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda for the 20^th and 21^th  Congress;
• Received awards from various national and international bodies for our work in advancing the empowerment and well-being of women and children;
  • The Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM campaign received the following recognitions, both nationally and internationally:
    -Gold Anvil Award at the 2025 Anvil Awards
    -Meritorious Technical Award of Excellence at the 12th Araw Awards
    -Bronze Award at ADFEST 2025 held in Pattaya, Thailand
    -Gold Award at Spikes Asia 2025 held in Singapore
  • 2024 Asia-Pacific Care Champion (Category: Policy Powerhouses: Crafting Tomorrow’s Care Systems)
  • Thematic Lead Agency-Member of the 4th PHRP given by Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat
  • Stakeholder of the Year award CY 2025 from the Philippine Navy
• Laid the groundwork for the establishment of an ASEAN Center of Excellence on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Philippines.  

These milestones and all gender mainstreaming initiatives of the PCW will continue, regardless of the President’s action on my resignation. I appeal to all our partners to continue supporting the work of PCW and its dedicated, competent staff.  

Thank you, everyone, for being a source of strength and inspiration to PCW. As always, I stand committed to the mission of this office, in the service of Filipino women.