Women empowerment strong in Cebu province

CEBU, Philippines - Women empowerment is strong and evident in Cebu as proven by organizations, companies and government units that are headed by women.

This was according to speakers during the 13th Women’s Congress yesterday. The congress is an annual event headed by the Provincial Women’s Congress led by Acting Governor Agnes Magpale.

Hedda Largo, focal person for PWC Gender and Development (GAD) said that based on the assessment of the events’ panelists, women in Cebu are very active.

But along with the growing presence of women in society, concerns like women’s rights and equality should also be strengthened.

Marilyn Yap, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals who spoke about matters relating to women in the Philippine Justice System, stressed that it is important for women to fight for their rights especially when they know that they are aggrieved.

Yap, a Cebuana trailblazer in 2011, said that women should know their rights first and foremost so they would know that when violated, they can seek justice in court.

Another panelist during the congress, which was held at the Cebu Cultural Center yesterday, was Adela Kono, who spoke in behalf of the Persons with Disabilities.

According to Kono, the development of a province or a city cannot be measured by its economy alone. She stressed they need to address the concerns of the marginalized sector like the PWDs.

Kono said that there are still a lot of things that can be done to further help the PWDs, especially the women.

It may be a small concern for some, but Kono said that access to proper public restrooms for female PWDs is a very big issue.

She explained that in some establishments for example, there are cubicles in restrooms that are specifically for PWDs but do not have the correct positioning of grip bars, for example, which makes it useless.

Kono said there are a number of establishments in Cebu that have made changes in their restrooms and have become more PWD-friendly.

Kono added that concerns like these if attended to creates a big impact citing that it would boost the tourism industry of the country.

She explained that for PWDs like her who go around in a wheelchair, travelling with convenience can be a big concern but she said that if cities and provinces can take into consideration their needs, it would be a big help.

Kono thanked Acting governor Magpale for her efforts to help the women and the PWDs in the province like on the ordinance authored with Provincial Board member Arleigh Sitoy to assure that establishments in the province would adopt universal facilities that can be used both by the standing users and those in wheelchairs.

PWC GAD focal person Hedda Largo said that the 13th Women’s Congress was a big success with close to 1,000 participants from all over the province. “Massive man ang turnout,” she said.

Largo said that it is important to partake in events like the Women’s Congress which poses as a reminder and a pat in the back for the women who share their time and resources to help others.  (FREEMAN)