Provincial Legislation, Daunting Challenge For Women’s Rights

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

Kapehan guests at Smokehauz Resto & Bar on March 13, 2010 discussed the topic, "Prov’l. Legislation Program of Aklan." Hon. Daisy S. Briones, SP member and last termer re-electionist, and Hon. Lilian Q. Tirol, SB member of Kalibo and now Sangguniang Panlalawigan candidate. Both are running under the Tibyog-Kusog party leadership (Eastern Sector) of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez. There was no explanation why other candidates invited failed to come.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino said that pursuant to Section 468 of RA 7160 or Local Government Code, the SP has the following powers, duties and functions: a) Approve ordinances and pass resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective provincial government, b) generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the develop-ment plan, program objectives and priorities of the province as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, c) grant franchise, approve the issuance of permits, licenses or enact ordinances levying taxes, fees, and charges upon such conditions and for such programs intended to promote general public welfare, d) approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of basic services and facilities, and e) exercise such other power and functions as may be prescribed by law.

Hon. Briones concurrently holds the Committee Chairmanship on Women, Children and Family Welfare. She is also a committee member on health, population and human resource. An optometrist by profession, she is considered a veteran legislator and public servant. Her advocacy is championing the rights of women, children and family. She co-authored the Gender and Development Code with Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, and the Aklan’s Children’s Code.

Perhaps, the reason why the Philippines is behind in socio-economic development is because our women are treated as second class citizens, said the lady board member. Under Gender and Development Code, women’s rights and privileges are equal with men.

This is the abiding principle behind the UN declaration of International Women’s Day that falls every March 8 of each year.

Progress in our economy is correlated to the progress of women in society. Women should strive for higher education, technology and income in order to be empowered. Key to this endeavor could be significant investment in education and scholarship grants to deserving students.

Hon. Tirol summarized her programs of legislation by the acronym GETWACE. G–governance, E–education for all, T–tourism, W–women and family welfare, A–agricultural productivity, C–capital support and E–environmental protection.

She is very passionate about public service as repository of trust and confidence, education as key to improve social status, tourism development for Ati-Atihan and Boracay, women and family welfare to be comprehensive and universal, agricultural productivity for food security, capital for liberal financing and environmental protection by conserving and expanding our forest cover.

A suggestion by Atty. Tolentino is for SP Aklan to pass a resolution to declare March 8 of every year as public holiday. Well on first thought, this is welcome idea knowing fully that this is in consonance with the basic principle of the UN body.

The problem is our long list of national and local holidays that are not even properly observed. A good look at it is how Independence Day celeb-ration that epitomizes/liberation from tyranny and oppression and embracing the portals of freedom consists of flag rising ceremony, wreath laying, minimal civic parade and bland speeches.

At local level, the liberation of Panay, Gov. Evelio Javier Day and XIX Martyrs Day that tend to surprise people why schools and offices are closed on above occasions. On top of it all is the week long religious fiestas and local foundation anniversaries.

Presently, we have massive poverty and hunger problems according to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, top adviser of Ms. Arroyo. He said that 25.47 million families live on P1,200 per month, rose to 27.6 million in 2006. Given an average economic growth in the last four decades, it would take 37 years for the poor to get out of poverty, Salceda said.

Meanwhile, Margarito Teves, Secretary of Finance averred that our outstanding national debt of P4.4 trillion as of Oct. 2009 means that each working age Filipino has a share of P75,000.

In a developing country, the people must be productive and hardworking rather than tolerate whimsical/capricious holidays. It should be noted that the US has only three holidays celebrated with much enthusiasm and funfare which are Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yet the US is a superpower.

While women constitute a significant percentage in the labor force, discrimination against them abounds. Obviously, this has to do with maternity leave, male chauvinism and sexual offenses. In an economy where un/underemployment are rated high, more women are underpaid and first to be laid off.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino raises a thorny and controversial issue on taxation that by legislative fiat, SP engages in every three years. Taxation for development is indeed necessary to finance programs and projects deemed important for progress and stability. Revenue allocation is 25 percent for barangays, 40 percent municipal, and 35 percent provincial. Nevertheless proposed ordinance covering taxation, levy, and all others are subjected to public hearings/consultation. It should be underscored that political campaign by local candidates according to Comelec officially started on March 26. /MP