NP offers best platform for women
Five out of 12 NP 'senatoriables' are women

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar yesterday said the inclusion of six women candidates in NP's slate led by his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda ensures that Filipino women's welfare are adequately covered by NP's platform.

The women senatorial candidates in the Villar-Legarda ticket are re-electionist Sens. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Pia Cayetano, Rep. Liza Maza, OFW rights advocate Susan Ople, and family and children's welfare advocate Gwen Pimentel.

"Women empowerment is strong in our party. We recognize the role of women in public service and our team is a good example of how women have shaped and continue to shape the future of our country," said Villar.

He named some of the pillars of the country's freedom such as Melchora Aquino or Tandang Sora, Gabriela Silang, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and Gregoria de Jesus among others.

"These women freedom-fighters passed on the torch to our modern-day heroines such as ordinary mothers, wives or daughters who are overseas Filipino workers, women entrepreneurs, and public servants, among many others," said Villar.

The former Senate president added that with so many problems and changes confronting women, there is a great need for women leaders to assume key roles in government.

"Maraming mga problemang kinakaharap ang ating mga kababaihan at kami ng aking mga kasama sa partido ay isa-isang haharapin ang mga ito.

"One of these is the fact that there are still many women who die giving birth. We are in the 21st century and yet maternal death is still high," cited Villar.

Villar is alarmed by statistics depicting the state of women's health in the country:

• More than 10 mothers die everyday leaving more than 30 children motherless;

• 4,600 women die each year from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications that are mostly preventable (e.g., hemorrhage, hypertension, and pregnancy with abortive outcome);

• 10 Filipino women die daily due to pregnancy and childbirth complications; three out of four of these women who die are aged 15-19 years old.