PHILIPPINES— Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio highlighted the importance of economic empowerment for women as the country pushes for post-Covid economic recovery.
A longtime champion of women empowerment, Duterte-Carpio stressed the need to address the lack of economic opportunities for women in the communities, saying they are good community partners, especially in driving the country’s economy.
“Alam natin na ang mga kababaihan sa mga komunidad ay isa sa mga sektor na minsan ay hindi nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging parte ng ating paglago o progreso — kahit pa man alam din natin na malaki ang kanilang potensyal at papel sa usapin ng kaunlaran (We all know that women in our communities sometimes is one of the sectors that were not given economic opportunities even if we all know that they have big potential and role in our development),” she said in her video message at the Go Negosyo Women Entrepreneurship Summit 2022 on Thursday.
Duterte-Carpio, the lone female candidate in the May vice presidential race, cited the “countless women leading the way, with power and in power” in the country.
“The contribution of women in our society is enormous in the fields of culture, arts, education, science, medicine, business, media and politics. The list is endless. From homes to communities, to institutions, to the rest of the world, women are everywhere, and everywhere women are making history and meaningful changes,” she said.
The Davao City mayor then asked the public to honor Filipino women as the country celebrates the National Women’s Month.
“Let us honor women who chose to build relationships and foster unity instead of hate and division. Let us honor women who chose to fight for both gender equality and inclusion instead of discrimination. Let us honor women who chose pathways to empowerment,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“Let us honor women who are our sources of strength, inspiration, and love. Let us honor the women in our lives who made us who we are today — for all the lessons and the blessings that they left us. Let us honor ourselves,” she added.
Regarded as an influential woman and recognized as a top-performing local government official, Duterte-Carpio has built landmark projects for women who often are not afforded the same opportunities as men.
She took pride in Davao City’s landmark project “Mag Negosyo Ta Day (MTD)” owing to women’s big “significance in development.”
MTD is a program for women to address gender inequality in the labor and economic sector in Davao City.
Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said women have now reached greater heights and continue to occupy influential positions in society.
