San Pedro City, Laguna — Hon. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag, Representative of Laguna’s 1st District and Chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, served as head and panel speaker at the 2nd WAIPA Women Political Leaders Forum held in Malaysia.
The forum, themed “Leading Inclusive Transitions: Women and the Future of Digital, Climate, and Governance Agendas”, brought together distinguished women leaders across Asia-Pacific to address the urgent need for inclusive and gender-responsive leadership in the face of digitalisation, climate adaptation, and governance transitions.
Rep. Matibag joined a panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Haslinda Abdullah of the University Putra Malaysia, alongside Hon. Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol of Malaysia, Hon. Fiona Phillips of Australia, and Ms. Ajeng Purnama Pratiwi of the ASEAN Secretariat.
In her intervention, Rep. Matibag stressed the importance of concrete, targeted reforms to address women’s underrepresentation in leadership:
“In the Philippines, we have enshrined gender equality in laws such as the Magna Carta of Women, mandating at least 40% representation of women in all decision-making bodies. But beyond legislation, we must continue building women’s capacities through training, mentorship, and inclusive governance structures that break systemic barriers.”
She highlighted landmark Philippine measures such as the Safe Spaces Act, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse Act, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act as key reforms that not only promote equality but also safeguard women from violence and exploitation in both physical and digital spaces.
Rep. Matibag also cited her work as President of the Zonta Club of Laguna, underscoring grassroots initiatives such as the “Bag-It-Forward” Program, which empowers incarcerated women through livelihood training, as well as advocacy campaigns advancing women’s rights in local communities.
On climate action, she drew lessons from Typhoon Yolanda’s disproportionate impact on women and children, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive disaster planning. In the digital sphere, she called for stronger support for women in STEM, tech entrepreneurship, and digital literacy to bridge the gender divide.
Looking ahead, Rep. Matibag issued a strong call-to-action:
“Ensuring women’s voices are at the forefront of digital, climate, and governance transitions is not only a matter of equity, but a foundation for sustainable growth. Women must not only be included—they must lead. By strengthening representation, dismantling barriers, and expanding access to resources, we can build a future where inclusive governance drives meaningful change across our region.”
Her participation reflects the Philippines’ continuing role as a regional leader in advancing gender equality, with the country ranking 20th globally and 3rd in East Asia and the Pacific in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report.
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