BAGUIO CITY – “Women of the Cordillera remain strong,”! This was how Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) OIC Administration and Finance Division, and Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section Chief Dr. Aida Pagtan described the women in the Cordillera and their contribution to regional development and nation building.
Coinciding with the nationwide observance of “Women’s Month”, Dr. Pagtan pointed out that women in the region, particularly in Mountain Province, have a vital role in the decision-making policy of the province.
“Take for instance, on environmental protection, women of upland Bontoc without any clothes resisted and denied the entry and operation of mining equipment and mining prospects in Mainit by forming a human barricade. In northern Sagada, the elder women implemented illegal logging laws by establishing checkpoints and preventing any illegal-logging activities,” Dr. Pagtan shared.
Aside from environmental protection, Pagtan is reminded of the legendary and renowned Bontoc Women’s brigade who implemented the curfew and liquor ban ordinance in Bontoc paving the way for other areas in the province to recognize the involvement of women in peacekeeping bodies as very significant.
“Their voice is as potent and important as that of the men. A study shows that women are more impartial in making decisions and recommendations because they could manage their emotions more than their male counterparts, aside from their women’s participation and membership in Barangay Lupon and local peace and order councils, and their great number joining the uniformed service which shows their strength as women,” Pagtan, who is also DA-CAR’s Alternate Gender and Development (GAD) focal person, stated.
She added that the women of Mountain Province have also shown a strong voice in planning, monitoring, and implementation of programs, projects, and activities particularly in the agriculture sector where farmers cooperatives and associations have shown a significant increase in female memberships.
Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988,” signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on March 1, 1988; Declared the First Week of March of Every Year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day,”.
Proclamation No, 227 s. 1988,“ Provides for the observance of March as ‘Women’s Role in History Month” signed by President Aquino on March 17, 1988; and Republic Act 6949, also signed by President Aquino on April 10, 1990 Declares March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day”. By JTLlanes
