Former Pinamungajan mayor Geraldine Yapha (front row, from left), Jessica Marie “Aika” Robredo, eldest daughter of vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo, and Provincial Board member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero perform a Zumba dance during the 16th Women’s Congress with Robredo as one of the speakers/ (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Recognizing the lack of women representation in government structures, a group of organizations decided to form a network to improve the role of women, especially in disaster and emergency management.
The Women in Emergency Network (WENet), which is composed of 10 organizations that worked with Yolanda-affected areas in the Visayas, was formally launched and introduced during the 16th Cebu Women’s Congress at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday.
“In our experience working with vulnerable women in the last 30 months, we learned that women are neither represented nor part of government structures particularly Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) bodies,” said Luchie Blanco of the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), one of the members of the network.
Blanco explained that WENet is a network of women’s rights advocates and practitioners with a vision to protect the rights of women in disaster-stricken areas and conflict zones.
The network was formed in February this year through the initiative of ActionAid Philippines, a group that has supported over 202,000 people in affected areas, providing food, hygiene packs, shelter materials, and resilient houses, among others.
However, the groups within the network have been collaborating since the aftermath of Yolanda in 2013.
Blanco said these organizations were part of the response and recovery process, working with vulnerable women in 124 barangays in 12 municipalities of Leyte, Eastern and Western Samar, Iloilo, Northern Cebu, and Antique.
Other members include Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., Central Visayas Farmers Association, Lihok Filipina Foundation, Inc., Lilak, Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc., Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Women’s Education, Development, Productivity, and Research Organization Inc., and Pambansang Koalisyon ng mga Kababaehan sa Kanayunan.
Blanco said that membership is open to all women’s rights organizations, networks, and advocates.
Over the course of their work in typhoon-struck areas, the groups witnessed that local organizations and communities have weak capacities on women’s rights protection in disaster preparedness, response and humanitarian action, mitigation and adaption.
“There was also a lack of women access to humanitarian services and the DRRM plans are gender blind and women are excluded from its implementation,” said Blanco.
She added that the network aims to deepen the knowledge of its member organizations on disasters and conflict in order to promote women’s leadership.
Blanco added that they also intend to influence policies, programs, and practices on women’s rights protection and leadership in emergencies. The network will also lobby for increased financing for the same.
More than 300 women from various groups all over the province were present at the congress yesterday.
Aside from the network launching, the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission also launched a campaign against cyber pornography.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, co-chair of the Provincial Women’s Commission, led the unveiling of information and education campaign materials which will be placed in strategic areas all over Cebu.
“This is a no non-sense province-wide advocacy against violence against women and children,” she said in a speech.
The materials describe the signs of abuse in women or children as well as the ways to report them.