WOMEN’S MONTH: CAMILLE VILLAR PUSHES FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN

Senatorial candidate Camille Villar vowed to support more initiatives that will promote women empowerment in both the government and private sector

In her recent sortie in Luna, Isabela, Villar noted the multiple role of women in the family.  Mothers, for example, face insurmountable tasks in the household.

“Nung nasa distrito ako, ang gustong gusto kong tulungan ay ang mga nanay. Dahil bilang nanay, intinding intindi ko po ang lahat ng roles na (ating) ginagampanan,” said Villar, a mother of two children.

“Inaalagaan natin ang mga anak natin. Inaalagaan natin ang mga asawa natin. Tapos pati minsan ang ating mga magulang, ang ating mga kapatid. Ang ating mga pamilya sinisigurado natin maayos ang pagpapatakbo ng ating bahay,” she said.

As the country marks Women’s Month this March, Villar also batted for equal opportunities for women, and sought for benefits such as parental leave from work.

Villar also cited the need to provide better access to health services, particularly reproductive and maternal health as well as mental health awareness.

She said she recognizes how challenging it is for women to climb up the work organization, which was once dominated by men. 

These are the reasons why, Villar said, she also strongly support programs that encourage financial literacy and training to equip women in providing means of livelihood for their families.

“Bilib ng bilib po ako sa kakayanan ng isang babae at naniniwala po ako at totoo po… na kailangan ng kalalakihan ang mga kababaihan. Dahil naniniwala po ako na walang hindi magagawa ang isang babae. Dahil bilib na bilib po ako na sa dami ng ating ginagawa, nagkakapanahon pa tayo mag-enjoy at magtipon-tipon. Kulang ang oras sa isaw araw sa ating ginagawa,” she said, eliciting applause from the crowd.

During her two-term career as a legislator, Villar has been in close coordination with advocacy groups that support women causes, including Buntis Congress that educate mothers on maternal health and child-rearing, and the importance of breastfeeding.

Villar, who has been juggling her passion as a mother, a wife, a lawmaker, and an entrepreneur, said she will continue pushing for bills that promote women once given the chance to work at the Senate.

In Congress, she filed House Bill No. 10697- Pregnant Women Welfare Act, that proposes flexible work arrangements for pregnant women and postnatal mothers.

She also pushed for the passage of the Equal Maternity Protection Act. The measure seeks to grant maternity benefits to women workers in the informal economy.

If given the chance to serve the Senate after the 2025 midterm polls, Villar said she would push for the approval of a measure seeking to prohibit any health institution, hospital, or maternity lying-in from refusing to admit or give assistance to expecting mothers who are about to give birth. She had filed a similar measure in the House of Representatives.

She also wants to push for the distribution of maternity kits to low-income pregnant Filipino women to improve their prenatal care to reduce child mortality in the country.

Villar also vowed to file a measure similar to her pet bill, HB 5243, an act granting free medical and hospitalization benefits to indigent Filipino women suffering from diseases, illnesses and injuries as result of violence inflicted on them In 2023, Villar filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1025 that sought an investigation into the rising number of maternal deaths from childbirth. The goal of the probe was to enact a law that would strengthen and ensure easier access to healthcare services and programs to address maternal problems. (DANNY BACOLOD)