The discussion on gender equality and women’s rights remains a crucial conversation in the Philippines. In a recent episode of “The Equality Equation,” a podcast by Simpol.ph, an expert tackled key issues affecting women, including legal rights, gender-based violence, and economic empowerment.
The inaugural episode, which aired on March 4, featured Jescel Aquino, an information officer at the Philippine Commission on Women, and was hosted by Liza Hernandez-Morales, institute director at Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo de Manila.
Aquino emphasized the significance of National Women’s Month and the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women as key government initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness. “We always stress the importance of these campaigns,” Aquino said. “They inform women about the laws that empower them, their rights, and how they can advocate for themselves.”
One of the critical laws Aquino discussed was Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. She noted that anyone aware of domestic violence can report incidents, even if they are not directly related to the victim. “If you are aware of ongoing violence, you can report it,” she said. “But the right to file a case still belongs to the victim or their family. However, if you are a witness, you can still report it.”
Aquino said that if one knows of ongoing violence, they can report it; but filing a case remains the victim’s or their family’s right.
Victims of violence have several legal options, including a Barangay Protection Order, which provides immediate protection at the barangay level; police stations with Women and Children’s Protection Desks, where complaints related to domestic abuse can be filed; the Department of Health’s Women and Children’s Protection Center, which offers medico-legal assessments; and the Public Attorney’s Office, which provides free legal assistance.
Aquino also addressed economic abuse, another form of oppression that many women face beyond physical violence. “Economic abuse happens when a husband does not allow his wife to work, making her financially dependent,” she said. “It also includes failing to provide financial support for a child, even if the parents are not married.”
She highlighted the growing number of women excelling in traditionally male-dominated professions. Among them is Police Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad, the first female graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy and the chief of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center. “We now see women excelling in the police force, engineering, aviation, and other industries,” Aquino said.
She emphasized that gender equality is not about diminishing men’s roles but ensuring equal opportunities for all. “We don’t enter male-dominated fields just to prove we can do it,” she said. “We do it because opportunities should be open to everyone.”
Creating safe environments for women remains crucial to achieving gender equality, she said. Aquino discussed Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, which broadens protections against sexual harassment in workplaces, public spaces, and online.
“Previously, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act only applied to cases where there was moral ascendancy, like a boss harassing an employee,” she said. “Now, the Safe Spaces Act covers peer-to-peer and even stranger-to-stranger harassment.”
Women in the hospitality and food service industries are particularly vulnerable, Aquino noted. “Some customers feel entitled to harass servers just because they are paying for a service,” she said. “Unwarranted comments like ‘Miss, ang sexy mo’ can be considered harassment under this law.”
Aquino (left) also noted that even if full change does not happen in this generation, progress is underway.
The Safe Spaces Act allows anyone with knowledge of harassment to report it, not just the victim. However, Aquino acknowledged that penalties for offenders remain low.
“The first offense only warrants 12 hours of community service, while the second offense ranges from 11 to 13 days of service,” she said. “There is a proposal to increase the penalties as part of the women’s priority agenda.”
Aquino also highlighted key government programs aimed at supporting women’s well-being, including the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which grants 105 days of paid leave to mothers, regardless of marital status.
Another initiative is the Gender and Development budget, which requires government agencies to allocate at least 5 percent of their total budget to gender-related programs. “For example, the Quezon City government has a ‘No Woman Left Behind’ program for incarcerated women,” Aquino said. “They also provide breast milk storage facilities to support mothers who may have difficulty producing milk for their babies.”
Concluding the discussion, Aquino stressed the need to dismantle gender stereotypes from an early age. “We need to raise children without assigning gender roles,” she said. “Toys like trucks or tools should not be labeled as ‘for boys’ only.”
Aquino also pointed out the troubling notion that having a son is perceived as “safer” than having a daughter because men face fewer dangers in society. “It’s disheartening that this is how some people see the world,” she said. “We want to change this mindset. The Philippines belongs to all genders.”
She remains optimistic about the country’s progress toward gender equality despite the challenges. “Even if we don’t see the full change in our generation, we are on our way there,” she said. “And that is what matters.”
