THE House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chaired by Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman approved on Wednesday the unnumbered substitute bill, including the draft committee report, to House Bills 6004 and 9667, or the “Women Participation and Representation in Political Parties Act.”
Committee vice chairperson and Laguna Rep. Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag presided over the meeting.
Both measures aim to promote gender equality by ensuring women’s equal participation in the national legislature and closing the existing gender gap in healthcare, education and labor force involvement.
In the approved substitute bill, political parties would be mandated to craft and implement a clear Gender and Development (GAD) agenda and program, consistent with each party’s philosophy and ideals.
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) will play a crucial role in assisting political parties in the development of this agenda, providing expertise and guidance to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.
Moreover, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will be mandated to make the inclusion of GAD agenda as an additional requirement for political parties to be accredited.
The measures are authored by Roman and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas.
The panel also deliberated on HBs 6001 and 9835, or the proposed “Gender Responsive and Inclusive Public Health Concern and Disaster Management Act.”
Both measures aim to provide gender-sensitive and inclusive protocols and initiatives to meet women’s unique needs during public health emergencies, threats, disasters and other critical health events.
Resource persons and stakeholders from the PCW, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine National Police, Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas among others, provided their insights and submitted their position papers on the two measures.
