PopCom renews call for protection of women during pandemic

by Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star), 10 Mar 2021

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Population (PopCom) yesterday renewed its call for the protection of Filipino women, especially during the pandemic.

Citing a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, PopCom said 25 percent or one in four Filipino adults mentioned harmful acts in various forms as among the most pressing problems of women.

PopCom noted that 11 percent of the respondents cited physical violence as a top concern for Filipinas, while 14 percent mentioned sexual violence and emotional violence at seven percent each.

The figure is almost similar in Mindanao, with 24 percent of women sharing the same sentiments: physical violence (11 percent), sexual (five percent) and emotional (eight percent).

The agency said it was slightly lower in the Visayas at 22 percent. Of the figure, six percent accounts for physical violence, 11 percent for sexual and five percent for emotional.

The trend was higher in Manila at 29 percent: physical violence (13 percent), sexual (seven percent) and emotional (nine percent).

The rest of Luzon was pegged at 28 percent, with 13 percent of the respondents citing physical violence, sexual with seven percent and emotional with eight percent.

According to PopCom executive director Juan Antonio Perez III, the Philippines leads the global community in “championing the cause of women.”

This, he said, is evidenced by its high worldwide ranking in women empowerment and gender equality.

Perez cited the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, which ranked the Philippines at 16th the only one in Asia in the Top 20 as the country is “performing excellently in closing the gender gap when it comes to economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment.”