Legarda advances women’s rights and opportunities on Women’s Day

Loren Legarda

MANILA, Philippines – In celebration of International Women’s Day, Senator Loren Legarda assured her commitment to continue upholding the welfare of Filipino women, urging fellow public servants to prioritize programs that will ensure their safety and well-being.

While the Philippines remains the most gender equal country in Asia according to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) Report, Legarda emphasized that there are persistent threats against women’s rights.

Loren Legarda

“Stronger legal protections will always be the key to ensure that women are treated with dignity and respect in all aspects of life. But laws will be insufficient if we do not uphold them with conviction,” she asserted.

“When we support women, when we protect their rights, invest in their education, and create equal economic opportunities, we build a stronger and more resilient Philippines,” Legarda said.

Loren Legarda

According to Legarda, more Filipinas fall on the short end owing to inequalities due to gender-based biases in their respective communities and workplaces.

Moreover, Filipinas remain bogged with issues such as domestic violence, lack of access to education and health, and lack of economic opportunities.

Legarda, the country’s longest-serving female senator and the only woman to top two senatorial elections, has long been at the forefront of championing women’s rights. She has sought to bridge the gaps by authoring and sponsoring laws such as the Magna Carta of Women, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its expanded version, the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Law, and the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

Women often bear the burden of unpaid household tasks like cooking, caregiving, cleaning, and laundry, which go unrecognized and uncompensated. “It’s time we acknowledge and value the weight of unpaid care work that women shoulder,” said the lawmaker.

To address this, the four-term senator filed Senate Bill No. 1648, the proposed Unpaid Care Workers Welfare Act, to challenge traditional gender roles and promote shared household responsibilities.

Legarda has also been a strong advocate for women entrepreneurs, especially in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where women make up 99% of participants. She has supported programs that empower women in culture-based industries like weaving, including the TESDA Women Center Alumni Association (TWCAA) for entrepreneurship training, the Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs) under the NCCA for preserving indigenous crafts, the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves to showcase local weavers, and the DTI’s National Arts and Crafts Fair to promote Filipino MSMEs.

“Women in MSMEs are closest to my heart because they make up almost all of our small businesses. To truly support them, we must provide the necessary resources—capital, equipment, and training—to help their businesses thrive,” Legarda emphasized.

“Championing women’s rights has always been my advocacy, and I remain steadfast in crafting and supporting legislation that will forward the country into a much more inclusive society.”