The Philippines has made significant strides in advancing women’s rights over the years. Through the years, several laws and policies have been put in place to protect and empower women, aiming toward full gender equality. At this point, we would like to ascertain the current status of women’s rights in the Philippines. We shall look at the sufficiency of existing laws and determine if ongoing efforts are still needed for further progress.

Looking at the legal aspect of women’s rights, our country has a solid legal framework designed to protect women’s rights, starting with first and foremost, the 1987 Constitution. The Constitution explicitly guarantees equal rights for men and women, prohibiting gender-based discrimination. Various laws have also been enacted to address gender inequality and promote women’s empowerment, including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (Republic Act No. 9262 approved in 2004), the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710 approved in 2009), and the Reproductive Health Act (Republic Act No. 10354 approved in 2012). These laws laid the strong foundation for promoting women’s rights and fostering gender equality.

Addressing gender-based violence, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act continues to provide protection. In each police precinct, there is a dedicated women police officer who is in charge of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD). Her desk caters specifically to women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The Social Welfare and Development Office in each city also provides psychological and counseling support to women victims.

The latest law that further strengthens protection against women’s discrimination and violence is Republic Act 11313, or the “Safe Spaces Act”. It is a gender-inclusive, anti-sexual harassment law that provides protective measures to persons in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces, and educational or training institutions. Online protection is a notable feature of this law, especially with the prevalence of ridiculing and bullying in social media.

As a result of all this legislation, domestic violence against women and children in the Philippines has continuously declined. From the 23,130 cases in 2016, the incidents have consistently declined each year (2017 – 21,430), (2018 – 16,080), (2019 – 15,710), (2020 – 11,180), numbering up to only 8,430 incidents in 2021.

One promising innovation in the LGU is the proposed establishment of an anti-sexual harassment hotline. This hotline will be handled by trained personnel and will be available 24×7. The City Population Management Office is the department tasked with the realization of this initiative.

In terms of women’s economic empowerment, our country has made significant strides for women. Women have excelled in various sectors, including politics, entrepreneurship, and the workforce. The Magna Carta of Women promotes equal employment opportunities and provides safeguards against workplace discrimination. Gender gaps in wages and occupational segregation are being addressed. We can see an increasing number of women being employed in traditionally masculine jobs such as police enforcement and firefighting.

The Philippines has made notable strides in women’s political representation. The country consistently ranks high in terms of female political participation in Asia. Our country has had two female presidents. The first was Corazon Aquino, who served from 1986 up to 1992. The second female president was Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who served from 2001 up to 2010. The Philippines also had at least nineteen (19) female senators: Geronima Pecson (1947-1949), Pacita Madrigal-Warns (1949-1955), Estrella C. Taño (1955-1972), Eva Estrada-Kalaw (1965-1972), Tecla San Andres-Ziga (1987-1992), Leticia Ramos-Shahani (1987-1998), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (1992-1998), Anna Dominique “Nikki” M. Coseteng (1998-2004), Luisa Ejercito-Estrada (2001-2004), Loren Legarda (1998-2004, 2007-2019), Jamby Madrigal (2004-2010), Pia Cayetano (2004-2016, 2019-present), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (1995-2001, 2004-2016), Tessie Aquino-Oreta (1998-2004), Leila de Lima (2016-present), Risa Hontiveros (2016-present), Nancy Binay (2013-present), Cynthia Villar (2013-present), and Grace Poe (2013-present)

The Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women mandates gender parity in government appointive positions and encourages women’s participation in decision-making bodies. As such, women continue to get elected to public office whether at the national or local level. General Santos City currently has a female City Mayor and Vice Mayor, as well as several female councilors in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The Reproductive Health Act, enacted in 2012, guarantees universal access to reproductive health services, including family planning, maternal care, and sexual education. While this law has faced significant controversy, it represents an important step toward women’s reproductive rights and health.
Republic Act No. 11210, approved in 2019, further provided even greater benefits for pregnant women. The maternity leave was expanded from the usual ninety (90) days up to one hundred-five days (105). The extra fifteen (15) days provide more time for women to take care of their newborn child. There is also an option to extend for an additional thirty (30) days without pay. It also grants an additional fifteen (15) days extension for solo mothers.

Despite all the advancements in legislation and working conditions for women in our country, several challenges remain.

No matter how strong the laws for mitigating the violence against women in our country have become, our women continue to experience maltreatment and abuse when they go abroad to work as domestic helpers in foreign countries, especially in Islamic areas. The Philippines must continue to work with these Islamic countries by imposing harsh penalties for domestic and sexual violence against our countrymen. Immediate support and rescue efforts must also be provided by our embassies and consulate attaches. Foreign employers must also be prevented from confiscating the passports and cellular phones of our female workers.

Sporadic incidents of domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape-slay cases, and human trafficking persist, necessitating a stronger commitment to protecting women’s rights and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. Comprehensive measures are required, including enhanced training for law enforcement, and increased access to support services for survivors. Several sensational rape-slay cases have occurred after using illegal drugs. Thus, the war against drugs must continue because drugs cause the user to commit other crimes.

Human trafficking is also another problem that continues to persist, most especially for gullible women from the provinces. They are lured by fraudulent recruiters by dangling the promise of better employment. The national government must clamp down on these illegal recruiters through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Philippine National Police.

The government must also continue providing free and accessible day care centers most especially for working mothers. The Lorelie G. Pacquiao administration emphasizes women’s entrepreneurship and access to financial resources as a way of contributing to women’s economic empowerment.

Gender-based education must likewise continue for all citizens, especially in the youth sector. Respect for all must be emphasized, as well as revising wrong cultural norms and gender stereotypes. Socioeconomic inequalities and limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities also need to be addressed. Existing laws should be implemented strongly.

Overall, the laws protecting the rights of women in the Philippines are sufficient. But the implementation problem still exists. Overcoming all these challenges requires concerted efforts from the government, civil society organizations, and individuals to challenge societal norms, promote gender equality, and ensure the effective implementation of existing laws and policies. By fostering an inclusive society where women’s rights are fully protected and realized, the Philippines can become a good example of gender equality in the region and beyond.