The Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) formally launched its month-long National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) on March 4.
The celebration adheres to the 2023-2028 theme, “WE for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion”. WE stands for Women and Everyone to highlight collective action and Women’s Empowerment to underscore the goal of the annual NWMC.
The 2024 celebration also bears the sub-theme, “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!” to emphasize the Philippine government’s commitment to cultivating and unleashing the full potential of Filipina women and girls to achieve national transformation.
Showing full support for this year’s NWMC, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. acknowledged the event as a reminder of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas where every citizen, including women, are given equal rights, treatment, and opportunities.
“Ang pagdiriwang natin ay hindi lamang pagbabalik-tanaw; isa itong panawagan para patuloy ang pagkilala at pagsuporta sa mga kababaihan. Nawa’y magkaisa tayo sa pagsalubong ng isang Bagong Pilipinas na makatarungan, masagana, at mapagkalinga sa lahat,” the agri chief expressed.
The Secretary expressed his admiration and respect to women, especially in the agriculture and fishery sectors.
“Ang inyong sipag, tiyaga, at katatagan sa harap ng mga hamon ay hindi lang nakikita sa trabaho, sa bukid, at sa dagat, kun’di pati na sa inyong araw-araw na buhay,” he said.
For her part Undersecretary for Attached Agencies and Corporations Agnes Catherine Miranda, who concurrently serves as DA-GFPS Chairperson urged everyone to champion women in all places to eliminate inequality.
“The National Women’s Month is a celebration of respect, appreciation, love, and care towards women. Society is better when women are given equal rights and are not taken for granted. Women’s involvement extends beyond mere labor; they are key decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and agents of change in their communities,” she said.
The DA’s NWMC 2024 celebration features a month-long exhibit at the Central Office highlighting the success stories of women in the crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries subsectors. Most notable among the said features are the winners of the Search for Outstanding Rural Women (SORW)—the annual recognition of the Department for rural women with remarkable contributions to agricultural progress, women empowerment, and community development—through the years.
For the first week of March, crops-based agri-enterprises led and./or organized by women are setting up concessionaire booths at the DA Central Office. Livestock, poultry, and fisheries will be taking center stage on the third week of the month.
Various technology demonstrations by the DA banner programs, a symposium featuring women agripreneurs, webinars on women’s health in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), as well as free spa and skincare services will also be conducted throughout the month.
The month-long celebration is also observed in DA Regional Field Offices and attached agencies, bureaus, and corporations. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)
