Women senators file bill protecting women and girls during emergencies

In celebration of the International Women's Day, women senators led by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a measure seeking to create programs and protocols addressing the unique needs of women and girls during disasters and public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hontiveros, along with Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Leila de Lima, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, and Cynthia Villar, filed Senate Bill 2088, or the proposed "Gender Responsive and Inclusive Pandemic Management Act of 2021."

The measure seeks to provide women with access to social protections and safety nets, involve them in the formulation of guidelines for the national management of the pandemic, guarantee access to and the continuous functioning of gender desks and health services, and allocate funds for these programs, among others.

In a privilege speech, Hontiveros lamented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically on women and girls.

"Kung noon, matining ang usapan ukol sa banta ng coronavirus, ngayong 2021, ramdam na ang hagupit at mariing pagdagan ng mga epekto ng COVID-19, lalo na sa mga kababaihan," she said.

"Ilan sa mga pangunahing laban para sa mga babae na masisipat natin sa ngayon: ang gender-related violence, economic disempowerment, ang wala sa oras na pagbubuntis dahil sa kawalan ng maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan, at human trafficking," she added.

Hontiveros said the bill is dedicated to women who experience these issues, as well as to women workers here and abroad whose jobs are also affected by the ongoing pandemic and other women who face different kinds of obstacles on a daily basis.

"Para ito sa mga nanay na hinamon ng panahon na maging algebra, English, science, at homeroom teacher; para sa mga nars at barangay health workers na exposed sa COVID dahil sa pang-araw-araw na paninilbihan sa mga may-sakit," she said.

"Ang bill na ito ay pag-akay sa mga teenagers na biktima ng gender-based violence, pati mga buntis na misis na hindi makakuha ng barangay protection order mula sa kanyang mapang-abusong asawa dahil bawal daw lumabas ang mga buntis. Ito ay para sa pagbabayanihan ng mga kababaihan," she added.

Hontiveros thanked her fellow women senators for supporting the bill, saying that it is a perfect example of "how important it is for women to look out for each other."

“I am grateful to my fellow women colleagues who, by supporting this bill, make the voice for women louder in government. Ito ay pakikiisa at pakikibaka para sa mga kapwa-Pilipina namin. We are a proud united front in the fight for women,” she said. — BM, GMA News