Hontiveros: Babae at bayanihan ang kailangan sa pagbangon

For this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, Senator Risa Hontiveros asserted that women and the Filipino spirit of bayanihan are key in our COVID-19 recovery.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, has consistently put the spotlight on gender inequality, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Babae at bayanihan ang dapat maghari para tunay na makabangon ang pamilyang Pilipino. The pandemic only exacerbated the multiple burdens women already carry. If we want to wholly recover from this crisis, we need to band together to better support our women,” she said.

Hontiveros adds that women’s empowerment and support is particularly needed during a health crisis, because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 70% of the health and social workforce is made up of women.

In a 2019 analysis, WHO then emphasized that investments in the health workforce could lead to women’s economic empowerment. For instance, while majority of healthcare workers are women, they earn, on average, 28% less than men.

“Karamihan ng ating health workers ay babae, hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo. Kung mapalakas natin ang benepisyo at suporta sa bawat isa sa kanila, mas agarang makakabangon ang buong mundo mula sa pandemya,” the senator said.

In this light, Hontiveros, along with other women senators, is set to file a bill for gender-responsive and inclusive protocols to address the gender-differentiated needs of women during COVID-19, and other public health concerns, emergencies and disasters.

“Ang krisis pangkalusugan at ekonomiya ay mas masosolusyunan kung gawin nating prayoridad ang ating kababaihan. Patong patong na ang bigat na dala ng ating mga babae — mga nanay, nars, guro, domestic workers, at marami pang iba. Akayin natin kami. Maging bayani tayo para sa isa’t isa,” Hontiveros concluded.