Mayor Benjamin Magalong led local officials and women’s groups leaders in launching Women’s Month (Kababaihan Festival) during flag-raising rites at the City Hall.
Councilor Lilia Fariñas, chair of the city council committee on women, said the annual event is geared towards the promotion of equality between men and women in society, provide equal opportunities for all genders, and eliminate discrimination and violence against women and children.
She lamented that even with the declaration of March 8 as National Women’s Day pursuant to Republic Act 6949 and despite other legislations crafted to protect women, violence against women and children persists.
“Violence against women and children in the form of physical and sexual abuse, economic deprivation, and political persecution worsened by impunity and injustice affects more than 90 percent of Filipino women. These include peasants, workers, indigenous women, urban poor, and OFWs,” Fariñas said.
During the Kababaihan Festival launching, Magalong also inducted the newly elected officers of the Outstanding Women Leaders (OWLs) of Baguio led by president Emerita Fuerte.
This year’s celebration includes the Women’s Day Program March 13, 8 a.m. to noon at PFVR Gymnasium with Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Mia Joy Cawed as guest of honor and speaker.
Highlighting the program is the awarding of this year’s OWLs who will be revealed during the activity itself after a stringent nomination and selection process.
A dinner honoring the OWLs awardees will be held in the evening at Ridgewood Hotel, Lualhati barangay.
Other activities are the One Billion Rising dance, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Malcolm Square today, March 8; women’s health forum at the Health Services Offices, March 13, 1 to 5 p.m.; women’s mentoring at University of Baguio March 24, 9 a.m. to noon; and Pinay Power (Women’s Talk) at Street 77 Cafeteria March 24 at 6 p.m.
The role and participation of women on the city’s creative programs will be discussed in a forum at the Baguio city multipurpose hall March 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; digital literacy for children in conflict with the law and out of school youth March 16 to 20, and digital literacy for women March 27, at Department of Information and Communications Technology training center at Pacdal; enhancing adolescent health forum March 20 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Philippine Women’s University; and a symposium on solo parenting March 20 at King’s Court, Trancoville.
Also slated are women with disability forum at Baguio multipurpose hall March 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; unit level socio-cultural contest for women at City Social Welfare and Development Office unit offices March 23 to 27; forum on revitalizing the environment at the Baguio City National High School gym March 27 from 2 to 5 p.m.; and closed door survivors forum March 28.
For the entire month, there will be an advocacy through various media outlets, practical skills training and livelihood program in identified barangays and training centers, free Pap smear at district health centers, and symposium on violence against women in different barangays and schools. – Gaby Keith
April 19, 2024
