In line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to “all agencies, oversight bodies, and local government units down to the barangay level to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women” during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2016, the celebration of the National Women’s Month this March will center on the involvement of women in the pursuit of change and in the full implementation of the Magna Carta of Women or Republic Act 9710.

This directive of the President is to ensure that both men and women will be partners for change in the pursuit of the country’s economic, social, cultural and political developments. Thus, the first National Women’s Month Celebration under the new leadership will focus on partnership for change and the full implementation of the Magna Carta of Women.

For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the lead agency in social protection, reiterates its strong commitment to protecting the rights and upholding the welfare of women.

According to DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, the Department is mandated to provide social protection to the poor, vulnerable, and the disadvantaged members of our society, including women who are marginalized and have been victims of violence and abuse.

“The DSWD has been a staunch advocate of women’s rights protection and empowerment. We support every initiative that provides better protection to women and that gives them more opportunities to function better in our society and contribute more to the country’s development,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

This year’s theme of the celebration is “We Make Change Work for Women”.

The celebration specifically aims to inform and engage women as stakeholders of government programs and services to promote citizen-centric governance. It also aims to create and facilitate platforms to discuss good practices, gaps, challenges, and commitments in pursuing gender and development; and to inspire and empower women and girls to be agents of change by contributing in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of all women.

“We enjoin everyone – men and women – to support efforts to build a society where women are empowered, respected, loved, and valued. We can only make true change work for women if all of us, in our own capacities, do our part to fight violence committed against women and eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment and promotion of their rights,” Sec. Taguiwalo added.

The DSWD has rehabilitative and protective programs and services for abused women or those in difficult situations. The Department also maintains and manages residential care facilities for disadvantaged women and girls, where they are provided with counseling, psychosocial services, and recovery and rehabilitation programs.

The agency also implements poverty reduction programs for the poor, including the marginalized women, such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI CIDSS).

‘Blowing the whistle’ against violence

As part of the Department’s observance of the National Women’s Month tomorrow, March 8, the DSWD will conduct  an information caravan at Divisoria, Manila to promote the programs and services it provides to the poor, including women who are marginalized and have been victims of abuse.

A team of information officers and social welfare officers from the Department will go around the busy streets of Divisoria to distribute information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to the public, specifically women, and to answer queries on the DSWD’s programs and services.

Apart from the info drive, the Department will also participate in the International Women’s Day activity organized by Gabriela at Bonifacio Shrine, together with different women’s groups, students, women’s rights advocates, faith-based organizations (FBOs), and representatives from the different communities in Manila.

DSWD Undersecretary for Operations and Promotive Programs Maria Lourdes Turalde–Jarabe and Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Jose Antonio R. Hernandez will grace the activity to support the call to fight violence committed against women and to fight for justice and lasting peace.

To encourage women to speak out on violence committed against them, the DSWD will distribute whistles to women participants during the event. Whistles are an emergency tool for calling attention during life-threatening situations. They symbolize the importance of making a noise, which is what women needs to do when confronted with different acts of violence. The Department will also provide a selfie booth to give participants an opportunity to show their support to the event by posting pictures on social media

The Gabriela-led activity will also highlight the launch of the 1 Million Signature Campaign to amend Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 to grant additional benefits to solo parents and their children.

Other activities lined up at the DSWD Central Office in observance of the National Women’s Month include the ‘Serbisyo Para Kay Juana” on March 9 or the provision of free treats and services to women clients of the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU); “Juana Film Showing” on March 13; and the We Make Change: Forum on Women Empowerment, which will be held on March 14.

The National Women’s Month Celebration every March is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day on March 8.###