About 4,000 participants from barangay women’s groups in barangays of Davao, national government agencies, and city government offices were able to join the morning walk in line with the International Women’s Day Celebration.
The morning walk started at exactly 6:30 a.m. from Freedom Park to Rizal Park. The majority of women’s groups and organizations wore their customized violet, Fuschia t-shirts, and summer hats as they joined the parade. The government offices, local and national, wearing their office colors, also brought their banners as they joined the crowd.
The crowd occupied not just Rizal Park at the back of the park but also Osmeña park and in front of the City Hall Building.
Davao City Integrated Gender and Development Division Lorna Mandin, in an interview with the City Information Office, said that the women’s march symbolizes solidarity with women and also celebrates the gains of the city throughout the years.
“Kini ginahimo nato ang martsa, this symbolizes our solidarity with women atong ginabalikan ang kasaysaysayan sa kababaihan nga nagmartsa tungod sa poor working conditions in the past ubos ang ilang sweldo, karon ginacelebrate pud nato ang atong mga gains, ang atong policies and programs na in place mga structures (The march we conduct symbolizes our solidarity with women. We look back to the history of our women who marched due to the poor working conditions in the past because of low wages, today we also celebrate our gains, and our policies and programs in place and structures),” Mandin said.
She said that an exhibit of the product and services of about 20 women’s organizations, as well as, associations was also conducted to promote the goods also for economic empowerment.
Mandin said that through the years Davao City has become a pioneering city for programs helping women.
“Kung tan-awon nato gani girecognize ta sa Philippine Commission on Women as the local learning hub tungod kay naa ta’y programa naa tay polisiya na innovative pasabot wala sa laing lugar or na replicate napud sa laing LGUs karon with that na-challenge ta ug padayon ta nga magtuon, padayon ta nga maningkamot so that we keep on improving (If we look at it, we have been recognized by the Philippine Commission of Women as the local learning hub because of our policies that are innovative, meaning it is not yet done by others or it is now replicated in other LGUs. With that, we are challenged to keep on learning and we continue to strive so that we keep on improving),” Mandin said.
During the ceremonies, Davao City Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Women, Children and Family Relations Chair Trisha Ann Villafuerte said that International Women’s Day is special because it is the time to give honor to the contribution of all the women in the development of Davao City. She also encouraged all the constituents of Davao City to join in helping break down barriers that prevent women from reaching their potential.
Villafuerte also said that in the pipeline are ordinances for solo parents to ensure women’s welfare and also the children as she is also currently drafting a committee report for a local ordinance on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
Meanwhile, Vice-Chair of the Golden Unicorn Savings and Credit Cooperative Patmei Bello Ruivivar, during the event yesterday, launched Koop4HER: A Solution for Women in Cooperatives and Negosyong Unicorns: Nurturing Women Entrepreneurs and Cooperative.
Ruivivar said that among the services provided by Koop4HER is insurance for all the victims of domestic violence – physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Through the Koop4HER, also women are given training for financial resiliency and social protection which makes it a holistic intervention.
She said that Koop4HER’s partner in Davao City is the Golden Unicorn Savings and Credit Cooperative. With this partnership, they aim to bring products including affordable insurance to women in all the barangays of Davao City. CIO
