Women in Decision-Making

Since women are not represented in development planning and development councils, their interest and welfare are more often left out or unrecognized in the process. In the end, they do not receive maximum benefits of development efforts and programs, particularly those rendered by the government. These conditions have led to what most economists observe that women in the Philippines, and around the globe for that matter, are among the poorest of poor and among the most vulnerable within the marginalized sectors.
At last, with the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women, the state is obligated to undertake special measures to accelerate the participation and representation of women in the economic, political, social and cultural processes of Philippine society. Women shall participate directly in the decision-making and policy-making processes in government and private entities to fully realize their roles as agents and beneficiaries of development.
The Magna Carta guarantees that women participate meaningfully in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies, plans and programs for national, regional and local development. First, within the next five (5) years, the number of women in third (3rd) level positions in government shall be increased to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance. Second, the state shall ensure the participation of women in all levels of development planning and program implementation. To achieve this, at least forty percent (40%) of membership of all development councils from the regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels
shall be composed of women. I once had a chance to sit down in a meeting of the Region V Development Council. As expected, most of the members were males - from the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Public Works, Labor and Employment, and Philippine National Police.
Third, women's groups shall also be represented in all international, national and local special and decision-making bodies. Fourth, the state shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, get the opportunity to represent their government at the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations. Fifth, the state shall provide incentives to political parties with a women's agenda and with women comprising at least forty percent (40%) of their leadership and membership. It shall likewise encourage the integration of women in their internal policymaking
structures, appointive and electoral nominating processes. Sixth, the state shall take measures to encourage women leadership in the private sector in the form of incentives.