The administration’s narrative of progress overlooks the structural barriers that continue to trap many women in poverty and insecurity.

The administration’s narrative of progress overlooks the structural barriers that continue to trap many women in poverty and insecurity.

By Dulce Amor Rodriguez
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Progressive women’s group Gabriela Women’s Party criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his remarks at the United Nations on women empowerment. According to Gabriela, this contradicts the realities faced by millions of Filipino women.

In a March 11 statement, Gabriela Women’s Party said that the president’s speech at the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women did not reflect the worsening economic hardship, violence, and political repression confronting women.

House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago said that the administration’s narrative of progress overlooks the structural barriers that continue to trap many women in poverty and insecurity.

“While the President speaks eloquently about empowering women, Filipino women continue to face worsening economic hardship, gender-based violence, and shrinking democratic spaces,” Elago said.

According to her, women workers remain concentrated in precarious sectors with little protection. Many continue to endure low wages and contractual employment while struggling with rising prices of basic goods. “Women cannot truly be empowered while they remain trapped in low wages, contractualized labor, and rising costs of living.”

She said that many migrant women still leave their families behind in search of work abroad due to the lack of decent employment opportunities in the Philippines.

Elago also raised concerns about the persistence of violence against women, citing cases of domestic abuse, trafficking, and exploitation.

Read:Economic insecurity of women workers worsen

She said that government pronouncements about addressing violence against women ring hollow when women activists, community leaders, and human rights defenders face intimidation and red-tagging. “The trumped-up charges against Tacloban-based journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and activist Marielle Domiquil are stark reminders of the dangers faced by women journalists, development workers, and those who speak truth to power.”

Read: ‘Tacloban 5’ imprisoned for still demanding justice 6 years after Typhoon Yolanda

Elago urged the government to prioritize legislative measures that directly address the daily struggles of women and their families.

Among these are House Bill No. 4774 (Presyo Ibaba Bill) which seeks to remove the value-added tax and excise taxes on oil products and basic goods to help reduce prices; House Bill No. 4779 (Expanded Violence Against Women and Their Children Act); and House Bill No. 4776 (Living Wage Bill) which proposes a national living wage of P1,200 ($21.40) per day.

Elago said that these measures aim to address the rising cost of living, strengthen protection for survivors of violence, and ensure that workers receive wages sufficient to meet their families’ basic needs.

Beyond economic concerns, Elago stressed that many women continue to face limited access to affordable healthcare, reproductive health services, childcare support, and safe employment opportunities. “If the government is sincere in its commitment to women’s empowerment, it must prioritize living wages, secure employment, lower prices, accessible social services, and genuine protection of women’s rights.”

For Gabriela Women’s Party, these conditions underscore the gap between official claims of progress and the realities confronting Filipino women. They said that meaningful empowerment requires concrete policies that address poverty, protect women from violence, and defend the rights of those who speak out for their communities. (RTS, DAA)

The post Citing women’s conditions, Gabriela Women’s Party questions Marcos’ UN statement appeared first on Bulatlat.

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