Home | To bottom

Cordi women demand relief from econ crisis

BAGUIO CITY (Mar. 11) — Over 200 delegates to the Regional Women’s Economic Summit held on March 8 here authored a declaration of unity demanding the government to act on the looming economic crisis and its impact on Filipino women.

They specifically sought relief from the impact of certain economic policies, the continued price hike in basic commodities and services, graft and corruption, and privatization of social services. They also asked the Gloria Macapagal-Arryo administration to address the issue of growing domestic violence against women and children and to stop unjust exactions from migrant workers. The City Social Welfare Office reported that last year, the number of women who are victims of domestic violence reached 93 reported cases. In the city where demolition is prevalent, delegates urged the government to provide socialized housing for the urban poor.

Women peasants, workers, urban poor, migrant workers, professionals, lesbians, youth church workers, government employees and advocates of women’s rights in the Cordillera participated in the summit.

The summit was sponsored by Innabuyog-Gabriela, Cordillera Women’s Education and Resource Center (CWERC), Gabriela Women’s Partylist, SAMAKANA, Gabriela Youth, KMU-Women Workers Committee, Migrante-Cordillera, COURAGE, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Begnas, LESBOND, Baguio Women’s Collective, Friends of Innabuyog-Gabriela, UP Engkwentrong Babae, Gabriela Legal Support Group.

Workshop-discussions on issues affecting women in various sectors were carried out.

Crisis impact

Challenges women face lie in the basic issues affecting them, said Gert Libang-Ranjo, executive director of the Center for Women’s Resources in an input.

Among urban poor women, she said, housing remains a problem, and that urban poor families are still threatened by demolition. Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s promise to build 1.24 million houses from 2001 to 2004 was not met, having only accomplished 73% of the target, she said.

The number of informal settlers likewise increased, where 52% is based in Metro Manila. The supposed budget needed for their relocation is around P19 billion.

The income of families declined by 3% in 2003 compared to their income in 2000. As such, family savings among professionals also decreased from P26,282 in 2000 to P21,300 in 2003.

In the agricultural sector, the average wages women receive is P127.98, while on a national scale, the daily cost of living is P456 a day for a family of six.

In the Cordillera where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, peasant women receive P150 for a day’s labor. Government’s lack of support services do not allow peasant women to explore opportunities for additional income, said Mila Lingbawan of Alyansa Dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilerya (APIT-TAKO) during the presentation.

Livelihood and loan programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) do not have a definite market as well, she added. Such livelihood programs include animal production, stuffed toy making and broom-making.

Children are forced to stop schooling to look for work instead, she said. In Lacub, Abra, many youths have resorted to small-scale mining to add to the family income.

“Makibalitok da laengen ta isu pay a pagkwartaan da”, Lingbawan said.

Peasant women are also seriously affected by operations of large mining companies. In Mankayan, Benguet, 14 hectares (has.) of ricefields were rendered unproductive due mine tailings from the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo), while another 7 has. was silted due to LCMCo’s tailings pond expansion in Baguyos. Vegetable gardens were reportedly destroyed due to expansion.

Agricultural liberalization has also affected the food security of peasant and indigenous women. In the declaration, the delegates called on the government to stop agricultural liberalization including the imposition of World Trade Organization (WTO) policies.

Resolutions and recommendations regarding women’s issues were settled in the workshop groups at the summit. # Abi Taguba Bengwayan for NORDIS

Home | Back to top