City Government of Calamba || Gender and Development
A BRIEF HISTORY
Through Resolution No. 341, the City Ordinance no. 341 also known as the Gender and Development Code of the City of Calamba, the GAD Focal Point System was established to be a mechanism for gender mainstreaming in the City. The session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod was held on December 17, 2012 at the City of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The GFPS, consisting of GAD Executive Committee, Technical Working Group, GAD Secretariat and 2 contract of service personnel took on the role in direction-setting, advocacy, planning, monitoring and evaluation and technical advisory in mainstreaming GAD perspectives in the LGU PPAs (Programs, Projects, Activities) and processes as mandated by the PCW-DBM-DILG-NEDA-JMC-2013-01 from 2012 to 2018. During the 3rd quarter of 2018, five (5) female Support Staff had been hired under contract of service to provide technical support, backing the work of GFPS. On October 14, 2019, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calamba City held its regular session at the hall of Sangguniang Panlungsod in the City of Calamba forming Resolution no. 244, approving the Special Ordinance No. 163 series of 2019 and creating the Gender and Development Office and its personnel components under the office of the City Mayor.
In 2020, ten (10) plantilla positions were created to better support the GFPS in their Gender Mainstreaming effort. Working on the 5% budget of the total LGU budget, the personnel assists in the different GAD PPAs of the City, in its pursuit of gender equality and women empowerment, being a basic development goal and key objective in development planning. The city aspires to become gender responsive through meeting the needs of its constituents thus improving their standard of living (especially the marginalized and vulnerable sectors) reducing gender gaps and biases; providing solutions to gender issues in the city; and giving more opportunities for women to become active participant and catalyst of change towards a more progressive development.
To this date, the GFPS led by its Chairperson, Hon. Mayor Roseller H. Rizal, and the Gender and Development office personnel works hand in hand to ensure that the goal and aspiration of the city shall be achieved and the budget appropriated will be utilized in accordance to GAD laws and mandates.
WHAT IS GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT?
Gender and Development as defined in Republic Act N0. 9710 “is a development perspective and process that are participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in development choices; seeks to transform society’s social, economic and political structures and questions the validity of the gender roles they ascribe to women and men; contends that women are active agents of development and not just passive recipients of the development assistance; and stresses the need of women to organize themselves and participate in political processes to strengthen their legal rights.”
As part of its principle, the City of Calamba recognizes and upholds the rights of women and believes in their worth and dignity as human beings. Women are recognized as full and equal partners of men in development and nation-building and men shall share equality with all forms of productive and reproductive activities. The City of Calamba, through its established mechanism aims to actively contribute to the establishment of a national and international economic order based on sustained, equitable growth and balanced ecology. Enhancing women’s full potentials, uplifting their status and leading to improvement of their lives are what the City seeks to undertake in its developmental efforts. It also envisions to pursue and implement gender responsive development policies, design and integrated gender and development support systems, taking into consideration women’s immediate economic survival with the support for their efforts of empowerment and self-determination and to adopt and implement measures to protect and promote rights. It also seeks the attainment of foreign policies to support programs and activities of women, ensure the full participation and involvement of women in the development process, the inclusion of gender responsive indicators and guidelines, review and revise regulations, circulars, issuances and procedures to remove gender biases. The GAD Focal Point shall be actively consulted in matters in dealing with official development assistance or foreign aid so as to determine biases and implications on women. (Excerpts from GAD CODE of Calamba City).
MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN AND THE CITY
The City Government of Calamba, through the Gender and Development (GAD) Division under the office of the Mayor is committed to its principles of improving the lives of men, women and those who belong to the vulnerable and marginalized sectors.
This however, would be unattainable without the altruistic laws and mandates that serve as guide of Gender and Development (GAD).
The Republic Act 9710 or otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women, provides a complete set of explanation on the rights and privileges of women and other vulnerable groups in the society. It includes the Human rights of women which consist of all the rights recognized in the Philippine Constitution and international instrumentalities. These shall be the rights of women under the Magna Carta of Women (a) Protection from all forms of violence, including those committed by the state (b) Protection and security in times of disasters, calamities and other crisis situations (c) Right to representation and participation (d) Equal treatment before the law (e)The Right to Education and Training (f) Women in Sports (Equal participation in sports) (g) Women in the Military, Police and other similar services (Non-discrimination in employment in the field of military, police and other similar services) (h) Non-discriminatory and derogatory portrayal of women in media and film (i) Women’s right to health (Comprehensive health services and health information and education) (j) Special leave benefits for women and (k) Equal rights in all matters relating to marriage and family relations.
PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN
The Magna Carta of Women bears the principles of Human Rights of Women. First, human rights are universal and inalienable, which means that all are entitled to these rights and it cannot be taken away (from us) and that all are free and equal in dignity and rights. Human rights are indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated. Thus said, we will not be able to fully enjoy these rights without the existence of the other. Another principle that the MCW bears is that, we are all equal as human beings, thus everyone must be free from all kinds of discrimination on the basis of age, gender, language, ethnicity, color, religion, race, sexual orientation, political or other opinion, national, social or geographical origin, disability, property, birth or status. MCW also bears the principle that all people have the right to participation and inclusion in decision making processes that affects their lives and well-being.
A. PROTECTION FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE
Gender-based violence has always been a global issue. In the Philippines, violence against women apparently remains to be one of the most distressing issues. It is extremely rampant that based on National Demographic Health Survey 2017 that was released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, 1 out of 4 Filipino women aged 15-49 experiences gender-based violence. The Philippine Commission on Women, together with the other coordinating agencies, local government units and institutions works intensively to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence in the country.
The City Government of Calamba, stands to eliminate violence against women in the City by providing programs, formulating policies, conducting activities and creating mechanisms that will contribute to the eradication of gender-based violence.
B. PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN TIMES OF DISASTERS, CALAMITIES AND OTHER CRISIS SITUATIONS
Disasters, calamities and crisis are very detrimental to all people. However, it may have more damaging and dangerous impact among the most vulnerable people in our society such as, pregnant women, senior citizens, PWDs, boy and girl children. MCW, clearly states the right, particularly of women, to be protected and secured during these perilous times. The government, being the duty bearer, must ensure that basic services, assistance, interventions and even protection from sexual exploitation and gender-based violence be provided to women.
Calamba City, being one of the areas commonly hit by calamities such as typhoons and flood, ensures that this right of women be recognized in its disaster preparedness and response.
C. RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION
MCW thrusts the State to ensure that participation and equal representation of women be recognized in all the sphere of society. It recognizes women as agents and beneficiaries of development, being involved in processes of decision-making and in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies, plans and programs for the entire country’s development.
Women stakeholders of the City of Calamba are guaranteed to benefit from projects, programs and activities that are being laid by its local government. Moreover, women representations are evident in its policy-making body wherein five (5) out of twelve (12) legislators are women. The organizational leadership also composes majority of women, who are occupying managerial positions.
D. EQUAL TREATMENT BEFORE THE LAW
Laws are important to ensure that the conduct of citizens is acceptable and moral. It serves as a guide to maintain order and avoid societal conflicts and issues. However, some existing laws may cause disadvantage to others if not scrutinized, reviewed or restructured to adapt in the ever-changing society. Women in particular may reap its disadvantages, thus the State must take necessary steps to review, amend and/or repeal existing laws that may be disadvantageous or discriminatory to women.
The City Government of Calamba intends to improve its existing laws and policies to better serve its women stakeholders.
E. THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Education and training are important human rights. These enable a person to gain knowledge and skills that will help in individual progress and success. Education empowers and strengthens any individual to become who they wanted to be, do whatever they aspire and at the same time contribute to the society’s development. MCW ensures that women will be given equal opportunity and access to these basic rights in order to be empowered and become contributor in nation building and economy.
The City Government of Calamba aims to provide its women stakeholders, education and training of traditional and non-traditional skills to become more empowered, competitive, and productive citizen.
F. WOMEN IN SPORTS (EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS)
Gender-role stereotyping had been common in sports. Magna Carta of Women recognizes the role of the state to fully eliminate this issue by developing, establishing and strengthening of sports programs for women and girl children to participate. Seeing that, competitive and non-competitive sports are means of achieving excellence, promoting physical and social well-being, elimination of gender-role stereotyping and providing equal access to the full benefits of individuals without discrimination.
The City aspires to create a program where women and girl-children can fully and equally participate in sports and unleash their potentials and skills without discrimination and stereotyping.
G. WOMEN IN THE MILITARY, POLICE AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES (NON-DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIELD OF MILITARY, POLICE, AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES)
MCW tasks the state to pursue appropriate measure to eliminate the discrimination of women in the military, police and other similar services. This includes the revision or abolishing of practices that are restrictive of women. Also, MCW ensures that women must be given the equal opportunities, privileges, remunerations and benefits enjoyed by men based on merit. They must also be protected from abuses and violence during recruitment, training and service, hence ensuring that the dignity of women in the institution will always be respected.
The City Government of Calamba challenges the belief that women are emotional creatures and fragile to take on the job related to public safety and order. Thus, it seeks to involve more women in the service that will promote security, peace and order in the city. The City also recognizes the role of women in uniform to be of high importance especially in its goal to end violence against women.
H. THE NON-DISCRIMINATORY AND DEROGATORY PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN MEDIA AND FILM
Women had been portrayed in media and film wherein their dignity had been stained. These had led to several abuses and exploitations in the industry and even caused negative impact in the minds of people in the society. Women who had played undignified roles had been discriminated and looked down upon. There are also portrayals that do not truly represent the ability of women causing another stereotypical assumption toward women. MCW ensures that the State shall create policies and programs to promote awareness and changes on how women are being portrayed, given roles and even treated in media and film.
The City Government of Calamba desires to create a Local Media Board, a mechanism that will play a significant role in the protection of women in media and film in local level.
I. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH (COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION)
MCW tasks the State to provide women a comprehensive, culture sensitive and gender-responsive health services and programs the covers the entire stages of women’s life cycle, addressing the major causes of women’s mortality and morbidity with respect given to women’s religious convictions, the rights of the spouses to find a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood, and the right of women to protection from hazardous drugs, devices, interventions and substances as MCW clearly states. The state also bears the duty to provide women in all sectors accurate, timely, complete and accurate information and education pertaining to women’s health in government education and training programs.
The City of Calamba recognizes health as a primary concern and is given priority in the formulation of plans, programs, projects and activities. The City maximizes its resources to ensure that health services, intervention and programs are given to its constituents, particularly women, pertaining to Reproductive Health Care Services, Maternal and Child Care and other services related to women’s health.
J. SPECIAL LEAVE BENEFITS FOR WOMEN
As mandated by the Magna Carta of Women, special leave benefit of two (2) months with full pay must be given to women in the instance that a woman undergoes surgery due to gynaecological disorders. Provided, that she is an employee rendering continuous aggregate employment for at least six (6) months.
The City Government of Calamba ensures that this right must be enjoyed by women working in its organization.
K. EQUAL RIGHTS IN ALL MATTERS RELATING TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONS
MCW asserts that discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations be eliminated. This law challenges the traditional roles of women in the family thus giving more opportunity for a woman to make decisions that she believes is better for her growth, future aspirations and profession without being discriminated and prejudiced. It also gives women right in ownership, properties and resources.
The City of Calamba is in full support of challenging these traditional roles to empower more women and still ensure that their rights related to marriage and family relations are uphold.