PALO, Leyte- In celebration of women empowerment, the Leyte 1st District Engineering Office, headed by District Engineer Johnny M. Acosta, held a seminar last March 23, 2018 with a theme “We make Change Work for Women” through the resource speaker Marilou B. Parina, Gender and Development advocate.
The National Women’s month, spearheaded by the Philippines Commission on Women is an annual celebration conducted to give due recognition to women’s significant contributions in nation-building.
One of the main topics emphasized was the R.A. No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.” Violence against women appears as one of the country’s pervasive social problems.
It is closely linked with the unequal power relationship between women and men otherwise known as “gender-based violence”. These acts of physical and mental violence affect the overall productivity of women. The economic impact of abuse may extend to losses in women’s earning potential.
As an office with a significant number of women employees, the said seminar was considered a realization and an eye opener to all employees in ensuring that women and their children have effective access to justice and to services and programs.
Concurrently gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Now is the right time to recognize the critical role that women can and are playing in conflict resolution and community building.
(DESSA T. MALIB)
