Women leaders to stage rally today

MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of International Women’s Day, women leaders of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) will spearhead a rally today to demand from the government an automatic appropriations for social and economic services as a solution to the country’s accumulating social debt.

Manjette Lopez, FDC vice president, urged President Aquino to honor the government’s “social debt,” especially to Filipino women who now “carry heavier burden due to the deficiencies of past and present administrations.”

“In honoring the financial debt of the country, the government has created a new, less visible debt: a debt to the people. We call this ‘social debt’ – debt to the poor, to the jobless, to the youth and to all marginalized sectors, especially women. Every peso paid to service the country’s debt adds to social debt,” the group said in a news conference.

According to FDC, women have for the longest time taken on the responsibility of the health, well being and development of their families as they provide food on the table, health-care services, ensuring a roof over the heads of their families and the education of their children.

In reality, these also cover the basic and essential needs of the Filipino people, which government should also secure.

Food, education, health and housing are rights enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (IESCR) both adopted (1966); and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1984).

“But government has failed to provide for its citizens, as its programs fall short in providing these needs and services for all. Social programs are sacrificed time and again, every time government’s fiscal standing falters,” Lopez said.

“The past and present administrations have prioritized debt servicing over the provision of social services, particularly health, education and housing. These have resulted in high maternal mortality, children not completing education, increasing number of street dwellers, and a wide gap between rich and poor. In the end, the task of providing (for the family) becomes a heavy burden for (most) women during times of economic difficulties and crisis,” she added.

Lopez said some 600 women members of the FDC and other affiliate organizations are set to join the rally that will start near the University of Santo Tomas on España in Manila. They will then march to Mendiola to ask the President to heed their call.