Manila: The Philippines kicks off its annual month-long celebration of women in March, focusing on advancing gender equality, leadership, and social protection for Filipino women, according to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
According to Philippines News Agency, PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla emphasized that the observance extends beyond International Women's Day on March 8. The celebration is designed to promote sustained action towards empowering women across all sectors. Drawing from policy frameworks like Proclamation 224 of 1988, which marks the first week of March as Women's Week and March 8 as Women's Rights and International Peace Day, the initiative aims to foster ongoing commitments to women's rights.
Additionally, Proclamation 227 of 1988 marks March as "Women's Role in History Month," while Proclamation 759 of 1996 declares the fourth week as "Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week." Proclamation 744 of 2004 further recognizes the last Monday of March as Women with Disabilities Day in the Philippines.
Valdeavilla highlighted that the strength of this month-long celebration is its focus on accelerating actions to enhance women's lives. It acts as a platform for government agencies and partners to introduce programs that support women's leadership, safety, and opportunities nationwide. Despite ongoing efforts addressing gender gaps, Valdeavilla pointed out that the Philippines ranked 20th out of 148 countries in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, with a gender parity score of 78.1. This ranking is a decline from the 5th position held in 2013, highlighting persistent challenges in economic participation and political representation.
Meanwhile, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos reiterated the government's commitment to advancing women's rights and empowerment, emphasizing current programs aimed at strengthening protection and opportunities for women. In her address, Araneta-Marcos mentioned the National Action Plan for Women, which aims to bolster laws, institutions, and services that protect women both domestically and internationally.
She also highlighted initiatives under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, including efforts to broaden women's economic participation through digital and financial inclusion, livelihood programs, and access to technology. Health initiatives, such as safe motherhood services and nationwide breast and cervical cancer screenings, were also underscored as part of comprehensive efforts to improve women's well-being and promote gender equality.
