The City Government of Davao joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, with a Women’s March from Freedom Park to Rizal Park starting at 6:30 a.m.
Integrated Gender Development Division (IGDD) officer-in-charge Lorna Mandin, during the Serbisyo Dabawenyo program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday, March 6, said the Women’s March commemorates how the Women’s Day started.
“Mao man gyud ang kasaysayan sa kababainhan. It started with working women nga nagmartsa, mga 10,000 women, sa New York streets tungod sa mubo nga pasahod. Diha nagsugod ang kampanya, and it became a worldwide struggle (Such is the history of women. It started with working women who marched, about 10,000 women, on New York streets because of low wages. That’s when the campaign started, and it became a worldwide struggle),” Mandin said.
The celebration of Women’s Day has undergone significant changes over the years. Originally, it was a one-day celebration to honor women’s achievements and their contributions to society. However, in 1988, the late President Corazon C. Aquino signed Proclamation No. 227, which extended the celebration to an entire month, now known as “Women’s Role in History Month.”
The proclamation recognizes the importance of women in history and their significant contributions to society, politics, and culture. Women’s Role in History Month aims to inspire people to learn more about women’s history and celebrate their achievements, as well as to promote gender equality and empower women worldwide.
President Aquino also signed Proclamation No. 224, which declared the first week of March as Women’s Week and March 8th as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day. The proclamation was a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations and its efforts to promote women’s rights and gender equality.
Mandin said that aside from the women’s march, a special exhibit of women’s products will also be showcased as a way to help boost their small businesses.
She, however, underscored that the IGDD office implements the Davao City Women Development Code of 1997, later amended through City Ordinance No. 1032-02 series of 2003, to promote gender mainstreaming in all areas of local governance.
While Women’s Month is a crucial time to celebrate and recognize women’s contributions to society, the IGDD office understands that gender and development concerns must be addressed year-round to integrate gender perspectives and concerns into policies, programs, and services provided by the local government.
By promoting gender mainstreaming, the IGDD aims to create a more inclusive and equal society, where everyone’s rights and needs are met, regardless of their gender.
Mandin added, “Kani ang padayon panawagan para sa mga kababayen-an aduna’y mga balaod ta gikan sa tibuok nasud, international, ug ang atong local women’s code. Daghan kaayong balaod gaprotekta sa mga katungod sa mga kababayen-an, make use of these laws (This is the continuing call for women, we have laws from national, international, and our local women’s code. There are many laws protecting the rights of women, make use of these laws).”
Meanwhile, Aubrey Relacion, focal person of the Women Welfare Program of the Social Welfare Operation Division (SWOD) of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said that even before March, at least 120 organized women’s groups have kicked off their women’s activities like Zumba and outreach to fire victims in barangays 21-C and 22-C.
She called on Dabawenyas to not just empower themselves but also others in their own little ways.CIO
