As the country celebrates National Women’s Month, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) calls for stronger policies to address gender gaps, specifically in the labor sector and in healthcare access.
In a news release Thursday, CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales emphasized that while progress has been made, systemic barriers remain.
“We need more opportunities, particularly in fields that are dominated by men. Let us remember that women have a multi-faceted role in the family, being the primary caregivers, taking responsibility for nurturing children, and managing the household. It is important that we remain intentional in providing all women from different sectors with the opportunities and voice to create influence and change, especially in society,” Bersales said.
The CPD said data shows that despite advancements in education and family planning, women still face lower workforce participation, higher unemployment rates, and economic disadvantages.
It said that data reveals that the percentage of women who have completed college is high at 14.5 percent compared to men at 10.5 percent. Women also dominate completion levels for secondary education at 84.8 percent, as compared to men’s completion rate at 81.4 percent.
However, the same data also shows that more women are unemployed compared to men.
“The labor force participation rate is notably lower for women at 51.2 percent, compared to men at 75.4 percent. As such, the unemployment rate is higher for women at 8.2 percent compared to men at 7.5 percent,” the CPD said.
Bersales said the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) 2023-2028, signed under Memorandum Circular 40 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in November 2023 covers the action plan’s eight key strategies which includes further advancement of the population, covering women from different demographics.
The strategies include the promotion of responsible parenthood and family planning, advancing adolescent health and development, supporting labor force empowerment and active and healthy aging, and accelerating inclusive development among marginalized sectors of the population with specific programs and initiatives for women and girls.
Bersales emphasized the importance of data, particularly disaggregated data, to enable targeted programming, ensuring that the most vulnerable groups, specifically women and girls, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), are effectively reached.
“As we celebrate National Women’s Month for this year, let us foster tangible and inclusive calls to action from various groups, providing a platform to voice women’s needs for economic success and meaningful empowerment, as we collectively strive to find solutions for women’s pressing problems,” she said. (PNA)
