by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
The weekly Kapehan Forum is besieged by women activists. This is no cause for alarm since the whole month of March is especially dedicated to their cause, their voices though conflicting at times must be heard at all cost.
Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Barangay ng Kalibo (SKBK) was guest on March 19, 2011. Present are Hon. Nilda Buyoc Tambong, Committee Chairperson on Women & Children, Ms. Chita C. Heap, Adviser and Ms. Editha S. Rubio, founding pres., and officials/representatives of 16 SKBK Brgy Chapters.
Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino pointed to several laws on elevating the status of women in the country passed by Congress since the time of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon up to the present. The latest is RA 9264 or Magna Carta for Women approved in 2009.
Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente quoted a German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, "the greatest good for everything in this world is happiness". Indeed, without women, even in paradise life could be empty and meaningless.
"Promoting women and children’s welfare have been high on my political agenda because of my calling. However they gave me the Environment portfolio much to my dismay. Presently I happened to be the only female SB member. Hence, there is no more impediment. This time around, with the strong commitment of our women leaders, there is no reason to fail in our gender advocacy program" said Dr. Nilda Buyoc Tambong.
Ms. Rubio said that SKBK originally started in New Buswang with more than a dozen members in 2008. Organization’s vision is women of strong values responsible to their cause, productive and victorious members of the community. It aims to lead the kababaihan to perform and support each other to become productive and responsible. The Federation is registered with SEC on August 6, 2008.
Notable accomplish-ments are medical and dental mission, legal consultation, libreng gupit, financial assistance to 26 families, christmas decoration at multi-purpose pavement and facilitated NGO funding for road improvement. Continuing program common to all SKBK chapters is community service all members provided every Saturday.
Important dates are last canvassing of Ginang SKBK on March 30, 2011 at Magsaysay Park, and Mass Induction and Coronation Night on April 30, 2011 at ABL Gymnasium. Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Ms. Virginia Clavel, GAD Coordinator of the Bureau of Local Development, DILG are honoured guests.
It is gratifying to note that women initiative, perseverance and fortitude are manifested by women organizations. Their selfless dedication is worth emulating. Their services are invaluable as wife, mother, homemaker, and manager. As society expands and Christian life belief and tradition claiming superiority of men and women are obviously on the decline as women become educated and assertive of their rights.
Many of the goals of SKBK may not be realized if the government absconds from its commitment to develop full potential of women under Gender Advocacy for Development – Commission (GAD-C). Empowerment demands physical, intellectual and financial capabilities. Physical includes good health and well being. Intellectual is soundness of mind and decision making. Financial capability is success in entrepreneurial work and creating capital build up.
Several government agencies are included in GAD-C, yet only very few manages to assist fledgling NGO’s like SKBK. Majority of these agencies have their support organizations and preferential policy are focused on their own. For instance, DA-ATI has Rural Improvement Club, Farmers Association and Anak Bukid (4-H Club) while DAR-Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Assn. (ARBA) and DENR – Aklan River Watershed Forest Resource Assn. It is true that each Agency has a focal person or GAD Coordinator., but it is easily overwhelmed by the immensity and complexity of the problems not-withstanding his Office task and responsibility.
Cottage industries like piña weaving, bagoong making, vegetable production and embellishing women sandals are currently engaged in by enterprising members. The biggest challenge to its viability and expansion is operating capital. Ironically, no financial assistance is received so far. Are women not bankable? Where is the micro lending scheme of Small and Medium Industries and Self Employment Assistance of DSWD?
An ingenious project of women in business could perhaps be found in Liliw, Laguna, which utilizes stalks of water hyacinth to make novelty sandals and bags. Products are of quality standard and eagerly sought by customers both here and abroad. They may adopt the same strategy of making full use of our leading Aklan products. Potential is on food processing like pickles from ubod or pit of coconut (usually by-product of coco lumber industry), vinegar from coco water and tuba, bottled fresh coco drink, "bukayo", buko pie, nata de coco jam, candies, and banana chips/flour from sabah bananas and fermented fish (herring and shrimps).
SKBK women are challenged to be productive and responsible members of society. Poverty and unemployment in the country are getting worst as our OFWs’ from the Middle East and Japan are repatriated in mass because of man made and natural calamities. Lingering global recession of developed economies dampen consumer demands of our leading exports such as bananas, coconut oil, electronic chips, and textiles thus contributing to unfavourable balance of trade.
Viable alternative is for LGU’s to look at potentials of women organizations to address problem at its roots. Virtually cottage industries provide the answer to widespread poverty and unemployment. This is in the face of volatile, unrealiable and unpredictable foreign labor markets. Must we sacrifice our future with these uncertainties? Let us give women a fair chance to prove themselves. /MP
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