Palace hails report on PH as Asia’s most gender-equal nation

Secretary Salvador Panelo’s Press Briefing (Photo screengrabbed from PCOO)

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday welcomed a report that the Philippines remains the top country in Asia with the narrowest gender gap between men and women.

“The Palace welcomes the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap Index, placing the Philippines as the most gender-equal nation in Asia,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The WEF Global Gender Gap Index, released this month, also showed that the Philippines improved two notches as the 8th gender-equal nation in the world.

It ranked 149 countries based on four categories — labor force participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

It cited the Philippines for having managed to close about 80 percent of the total gender gap through “strong efforts to close the gender gap in political empowerment.”

“The Philippines continues to aspire for inclusive development where there is equality and genuine collaboration between men and women, and we are honored that our efforts have been given global recognition,” Panelo said.

Panelo pointed out that the WEF report draws attention to the government’s commitment to give Filipino women the recognition.

“These findings highlight the government’s commitment to give Filipino women the recognition that they properly deserve, particularly their contributions in the home, in the workplace, in the community, and in nation building,” Panelo said.

He, meanwhile, vowed the that government will extend more efforts to close the gender gap between men and women by assuring that their rights are upheld.

“The President and this administration have always believed in the competence and capability of women, and we commit to further promote substantive equality in our society as we maintain to uphold the rights and dignity of women,” Panelo said.