Economic empowerment is necessary to liberate women, a city government official said, Wednesday.
Lorna Mandin, Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) head, said that economic empowerment is among the various means to empower women.
“There is really an underlying challenge for women that while they have many activities in their homes, they also have to gain money because this is among the means to liberate and make her independent,” Mandin told Times.
The IGDD conducted the 20th Women’s Summit and women’s consultative forum yesterday with about 500 women participants throughout the city.
Mandin said during the pre-summit activities, most women requested for trainings on sustainable livelihood. Among the topics they wanted discussed are that will help them on earn sustainably.
Mandin reported that while there have been many programs relative to economic empowerment of women, the IGDD will intensify its program this year particularly on capacitating women to have their businesses registered and provide financial literacy training in barangays for women.
“We have existing programs for economic development of women like the Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day, a program for women initiated by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, but we would intensify it this year,” she said.
“Most women perceive that business registration is a hard job, thinking it is expensive and rigorous that is why we are here to help them with information dissemination,” she added.
Mandin added the agency also aims to expand the coverage of economic support to women through bridging them with respective government agencies.
According to Mandin, they will help women source out raw materials and capital, learn skills and find a market of their products.
Joining IGDD on the summit are the livelihood cluster of the city government including the City Cooperative Development Office, Business Bureau, City Agriculture Office, and City Veterinary Office and government agencies like Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, among others.
This year’s theme for the International Women’s Day on March 8, Friday, centers on economic empowerment of women through skills and livelihood training, and financial literacy: “Ekonomikanhong Pagpagahum sa Kababayen-an Dalan ngadto sa Tiunay nga Kalambuan.”
