Press Release
August 14, 2009

Pia sees more women in politics and governance
with enactment of Magna Carta of Women

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today hailed as "a triumph for Filipino women" the enactment of the landmark Magna Carta of Women or Republic Act 9710, which was signed by President Arroyo in Malacañang Friday.

"This long-overdue law is an omnibus declaration of women's rights. It seeks to eliminate various forms of gender-based discrimination and promote their fundamental rights and freedoms," said Cayetano, principal sponsor of RA 9710.

"It will be the legacy of the 14th Congress to Filipino women today and for generations to come. I hope this paves the way for greater women participation in the nation's political system and governance," she stressed.

She said that among the "breakthroughs" of the new law is a provision that empowers women in the political system and the civil service.

Cayetano, who is also President of the Committee of Women Parliamentarians in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), cited Section 11 of the new law which seeks to provide incentives to political parties with a woman's agenda. It also encourages integration of women in the policy-making and electoral nomination processes of political parties.

Additionally, she said the same section mandates that within the next five years (or until 2014), the number of women in "third level" or executive positions in government shall be incrementally increased to achieve a fifty-fifty gender balance (50 percent men, 50 percent women).

Currently, Cayetano noted that of the 17,385 elected public officials from the national to the local levels, men comprise an overwhelming 82.7 percent (14,369 positions) compared to women who make up only 17.3 percent (3,106 positions).

Said positions are broken down as follows: President (1 woman); Vice President (1 man); Senators (19 men, 4 women); Representatives (128 men, 32 women); Governors (62 men, 18 women); Vice Governor (67 men, 13 women); Board Members (635 men, 123 women); Mayors (1,319 men, 273 women); Vice Mayors (1,362 men, 230 women); and Councilors (10,776 men, 3,016 women).

In the government civil service, she noted that while the bulk of women civil servants are in middle-level positions, only a few are able to move up to executive positions. "This new law seeks to facilitate opportunities for more women to move up in the bureaucracy and become decision-makers themselves."

She explained: "Women bring a different perspective to governance, decision-making and problem-solving by virtue of their life experiences as women. We need to bring in their unique perspective in government in order to have a more holistic view in addressing 21st century problems including poverty, social inequity, corruption and climate change. We are not saying more women, but equal opportunities for women and men in leading and managing our country."

"It might be too soon to expect groundbreaking changes for women in the 2010 elections. Encouraging more of them to become active participants in politics and governance will take a long, tedious process. But as more women become empowered with the help of RA 9710 and other pro-women laws, I'm confident that we can truly be a gender-fair nation over time," she concluded.

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