DA Conducts Rural Women Congress in Western Visayas

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Unit 6 conducted a two-day Rural Women Congress in Western Visayas on November 11 to 12.

Anita Moncada, DA Farm-Home Resource Management Coordinator said the congress aimed to empower women on their rights and privileges. It hoped to improve the living standards of rural women who are also behind the progress of rural economy.

Atty. David Bermudo, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights discussed the women’s rights and helped them understand the law regarding women and family.

Bermudo stressed that rural women are more prone to abuse and sexual harassment than women in the urban sector. He added that only educated women tend to defend their rights up to the judicial level, whereas rural women are afraid to bring their case into court.

DA Regional Technical Director Remelyn Recoter also stressed the role of women in the fight against climate change. She added that rural women should also be knowledgeable of the issue, so as to make their stand.

The two-day congress also taught alternative livelihood which included Fiber Processing by the Fiber Development Authority, Food and Vegetable Processing by the National Mango Research and Development Center, and Fish Processing by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

According to DA Regional Executive Director Larry P. Nacionales, the Rural Women Congress is the department’s project to help women farmers and fisher folks in the region as vital partners in agriculture.

More than 100 women participated in the event. They included farmers, fisher folks, cooperative members, LGU’s workers, and women in attached agencies of the DA that are based in the rural areas.

Participants came from Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental. Iloilo con-tingents came from Ajuy, Guimbal, Leganes , Miagao, Oton, Pototan, San Dionisio, San Joaquin , Zarraga, Tubungan and .(DA_RAFID6) /MP