Women continue to bear the burden of unpaid household tasks such as caregiving, cooking, cleaning, and laundry — work that remains unrecognized and uncompensated, Senator Loren Legarda said in a news release on Friday, a day ahead of International Women’s Day.

“It’s time we acknowledge and value the weight of unpaid care work that women shoulder,” Legarda said, emphasizing the need for policies that promote shared household responsibilities and economic empowerment for women.

To address this, she filed Senate Bill No. 1648 or the proposed Unpaid Care Workers Welfare Act, which aims to challenge traditional gender roles and ensure better support for women managing both domestic and professional responsibilities.

While the Philippines is ranked as the most gender-equal country in Asia based on the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index Report, Legarda pointed out that challenges such as domestic violence, limited access to education and healthcare, and economic inequality continue to affect Filipinas.

“Stronger legal protections will always be the key to ensuring 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 said.

Legarda has been a strong supporter of women entrepreneurs, particularly in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where women make up 99 percent of participants.

“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,” she said. (PNA)