“Sa Lungsod ng Biñan, kababaihan ay malakas – at patuloy na pinalalakas.”
As the Philippines gears up for the celebration of National Women’s Month, the city government of Biñan, Laguna has laid out its comprehensive program to ensure the welfare and growth of the city’s womenfolk.
Banking on this year’s theme – “Lead Like the Babaylans, Filipinas!” – the Biñan LGU under Mayor Gel Alonte said its programs are designed to empower Biñanense women and enable them to become active contributors to the city’s growth.
"Para sa atin, kailangang itaas natin ang antas ng ating mga kababaihan, para magamit nila yung kanilang kaalaman at talento para makatulong sa ibang tao," was how Dr. Arlene Alonte of the Biñan City Gender and Development Office (GAD) told OpinYon Laguna in an interview.
Holistic approach
The Biñan City’s GAD programs mirror a holistic approach to empowering Biñanense womenfolk – not only ensuring their physical and mental well-being but also encouraging them to participate and be active in their communities.
“Minsan kasi, yung ibang mga kababaihan, akala nila hindi sila enough.Pero kapag inempower mo, inuplift mo ang ating mga kababaihan, doon mas marami silang kayang gawin,” Dr. Alonte explained.
Aside from the usual programs emphasizing women’s health and mental-wellbeing, the Biñan GAD’s lineup of activities also aim to broaden women’s opportunities for employment and livelihood.
“For instance, mayroon po kaming Digitalization Training Program, kung saan tinuturuan po namin ang mga participant kung paano po male-leverage ang paggamit ng kanilang mga smartphone at social media para mas makabenta ng kanilang mga produkto,” Alonte recounted.
The Biñan City GAD, in cooperation with other local government agencies, has also lined up seminars, workshops and trainings on gender sensitivity and women’s rights.
Alonte added that this year, the GAD’s scope of its programs will also cover female persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), with the goal of enabling them to reform their lives and prepare them for reintegration to society.
“Magkakaroon po kami ng cervical cancer screening, seminars, pati po libreng gupitan at manicure, para po sa ating mga kababaihang PDL,” she bared.
The Biñan City LGU’s celebration of National Women’s Month is set to culminate with the official launch and general assembly on March 23 of the “KabarangGAD ni Gel,” a grassroots association aiming to empower not only the city’s womenfolk but also its youth and LGBTQIA+ community.
“Ang ating mga programa ay nakalinya sa kauna-unahang bilin ni Mayor Gel Alonte sa atin na dapat ay gawing inclusive ang ating mga komunidad. Gusto niya maging empowered yung mga babae ng taga-Biñan,” she added.
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