THE Gabriela Women’s Party kicked off the celebration of Women’s Month with a protest rally against rising power rates and the proposal to amend the Constitution, especially for poor Filipino women.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said the government continues to push for charter change amid increasing water and electricity rates.
Brosas said Filipino families are struggling to cope with increasing expenses, which would intensify if the government continued with its plan to open the economy to 100-percent foreign ownership.
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) recently raised its rates by P0.5738 per kilowatt-hour, or P11.9168 per month.
“Prices of utilities such as power and water are increasing, but instead of resolving this, the Government is focusing on Charter Change even if the public hates this,” Brosas said.
She said power problems continue in the Philippines because power generation is being privatized.
Brosas said that the country’s experience in foreign direct investments resulted in broken promises in reducing the price of goods and services.
In Valenzuela City, the celebration of National Women’s Month started with the “Zumba for Wellness, Equality and Sensitivity” at the People’s Park Amphitheater.
Participating in the event were thousands of zumba enthusiasts from the city’s 33 barangay (villages), city hall employees and representatives from the city police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Schools Division Office.
Members of the Men Opposing Violence Everywhere (MOVE) and faith-based groups also joined the dance choreography.
Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian and the city’s first lady Tiffany Gatchalian told the participants, “We are all for gender equality; we are all for an inclusive society.”
“We are promoting here not only women empowerment but healthy lifestyle through dancing,” Mrs. Gatchalian said.
The theme of the celebration is “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas; Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!”
According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the theme calls for a “new Philippines where women are given equitable opportunities and not hindered by gender biases and discriminatory stereotypes.”
Mayor Gatchalian told The Manila Times that a series of activities, including orientation and training that promote the importance of various laws such as the “Anti-Bastos” Law, careful handling of gender abuse cases in the academe and seminars on the postpartum mental health of new mothers, has been lined up.
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